Vrede van de Pyreneeën tussen Frankrijk en Spanje en huwelijk van Lodewijk XIV, koning van Frankrijk met Maria Theresia van Oostenrijk, rekenpenning geslagen op last van de stad Doornik 1660

This medal, struck in 1660 in Tournai, commemorates the Peace of the Pyrenees between France and Spain, and the marriage of Louis XIV to Maria Theresa of Austria. Note the two hands clasped, holding an olive branch. This motif, symbolizing concord and alliance, echoes across centuries. The "dextrarum iunctio", the joining of right hands, was present in Roman marriage iconography, signifying loyalty and agreement. It resurfaces in medieval betrothal scenes and political emblems throughout Europe. Consider, though, how the symbol is charged with layers of cultural memory. Is it merely a gesture of accord, or does it subconsciously evoke deeper, primordial desires for unity? The olive branch, of course, is another ancient symbol of peace, seen as far back as ancient Greece, evoking feelings of relief and hope. The echoes of these symbols, combined in a single image, resonate through time, an emotional appeal to the collective subconscious. The past is never truly gone; it lives on, transformed, in the symbols we continue to employ.