Schuttersgezelschap van Amsterdam 1771

This silver medal, likely from the mid-16th century, was created by an artist known only as Monogrammist B. The process to create this medal involved great skill and labor. First, the silver would have been mined and refined, before being carefully heated, hammered, and shaped into a thin disc. Then, using specialized tools like punches and dies, the intricate designs were impressed onto the metal. Consider the imagery: on one side, a figure being crowned, and on the other, an eagle above crossed rifles. This iconography speaks to civic duty, military prowess, and perhaps even religious conviction. Medals like these acted as currency, but they were also badges of membership, worn to signal allegiance and celebrate collective identity. By understanding the materials and processes behind objects like this, we can better appreciate their place in social and cultural history, challenging our assumptions about art and craft.