Vijftigjarige viering van de onafhankelijkheid van Nederland te Rotterdam 1863

This medal, commemorating fifty years of Dutch independence, was made in Rotterdam in 1863 by P. Mansvelt & Zn, from what appears to be a base metal. The making of medals is an interesting intersection of art, craft and industry. The process typically involves creating a design, then using that as the basis for dies – precisely engraved metal forms, which when pressed together, create a relief image. As you can see, one side shows a symbolic scene including a female figure and heraldic elements; the other bears an inscription. These dies can then be used to stamp out multiple copies, a form of mass production. This technique allowed commemorative images to be widely circulated. Each medal is identical, yet each one also represents the skill and labor of the engraver. Next time you encounter a coin or medal, consider how the artistic choices, the mode of production, and the social context all come together in one small, potent object.