's-Hertogenbosch, vroedschapspenning op het eeuwfeest van de herbouwing van het stadhuis 1770

This silver medal was created by Theodorus Victor van Berckel to celebrate the centennial of the rebuilding of s-Hertogenbosch's city hall. On one side, a stately female figure stands tall, a spear in hand, with the rebuilt city hall depicted in the background. On the reverse, another female figure, this one winged, holds aloft a wreath. The medal's structure is divided into distinct zones, each contributing to the overall composition. The obverse anchors the design with the architectural solidity of the city hall, symbolizing civic order. In contrast, the reverse features a dynamic, almost airborne figure, representing perhaps the spirit of progress. The design employs classical allegories to convey messages about governance and prosperity. It invites us to reflect on how art can act as a formal record of societal values. The medal's inherent circular form and the way the figures and architecture are placed within it, challenge our thinking about space and meaning.