Herovering van Schonen, ter ere van Karel XI van Zweden 1676

This silver medal, made by Johann Georg Breuer, celebrates Charles XI of Sweden and the recapture of Scania. Note the prominent portrait of Charles XI, adorned with laurel, a symbol transcending millennia, linking him to the Roman emperors and their claims to glory and triumph. On the reverse, the sun shines down on a cannon on a carriage, with the inscription 'Facile superatur' meaning easily overcome. But let us reflect on the cannon itself. From its ancient origins as a symbol of raw destructive power, it has been a tool of conquest, a harbinger of change, its image loaded with the emotional weight of domination and control. The cannon reminds us of the cyclical nature of history, where symbols of power rise, fall, and are reborn, each time echoing the past while adapting to the present. These symbols engage us on a subconscious level, reminding us that history is not linear but a complex web of recurring motifs.