Moord op de gebroeders de Witt 1672

This silver medal was created by Pierre Aury to commemorate a dark chapter in Dutch history: the gruesome murder of the brothers Cornelis and Johan de Witt in 1672. The medal encapsulates the intense political and social turmoil of the Dutch Republic during the Rampjaar, or disaster year, when the nation was simultaneously at war with England, France, and several German states. The de Witt brothers, who had long dominated Dutch politics, were blamed for the Republic's misfortunes. On one side, we see profiles of the brothers. The other side depicts the brutal nature of their deaths, with symbols of chaos and vengeance. In my opinion, the medal isn't simply a historical record but also a potent expression of collective grief and trauma. It serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of political order and the dangers of popular rage. It also leaves you to contemplate the emotional and psychological impact of political violence on a nation's identity.