Ontzet van Bergen op Zoom door Maurits, penning uitgereikt aan de hoofofficieren 1622

This medal commemorating the relief of Bergen op Zoom by Maurits was presented to principal officers in 1622. The iconography speaks directly to the politics of the young Dutch Republic, then in the throes of the Eighty Years' War with Spain. The image creates meaning through potent symbols: a lion wielding a sword stands for the Dutch Republic's military strength, while the coat of arms of Amsterdam is guarded by wild men, figures of strength and resilience, and the inscriptions in Latin served to communicate this message of triumph to an international audience. The medal reflects the social conditions of the Dutch Golden Age. The economic prosperity, and the institutional structures that supported it, allowed the Dutch Republic to challenge the established powers of Europe. It is a self-consciously progressive statement of national identity and resistance against what was perceived as foreign oppression. Understanding this medal requires research into Dutch history, numismatics, and heraldry. By studying these resources, we can better understand the medal's meaning, and the social and institutional context in which it was created.