Verbranden van de theoloog Michael Servet te Geneve 1553

This medal depicting the burning of the theologian Michael Servet in Geneva was made anonymously, using a die to strike the image into a small disc of silver. Silver, often associated with wealth and trade, gains significance here, moving beyond mere currency to become a medium for disseminating a powerful political and religious message. Struck through a die, this process would have allowed for multiple identical copies to be made, thereby amplifying the medal’s message through wider circulation. The medal’s size and weight facilitated its distribution, effectively turning it into a portable, reproducible commentary on the event it depicts. The choice of silver and its method of production underscores a convergence of material, message, and means. Ultimately, understanding the medal involves considering the complex interplay between material, craft, and the socio-political context in which it was created and circulated.