Moord op de gebroeders de Witt 1672

This silver medal, likely made in the Netherlands in the 17th century, is a chilling artifact. It commemorates the murder of the De Witt brothers, and reminds us that even a precious material like silver can be deployed in the service of propaganda. The medal was probably die-struck, a process involving hardened steel dies to impress a design onto a metal blank. Look closely at the image: on one side, we see the brothers being dragged by a mob. This disturbing image and text would have required considerable skill and time to produce. The choice of silver is significant here. Coins and medals like this one served not just as currency or commemoration, but as potent carriers of political messages. Silver, with its inherent value and capacity for detailed imagery, was the perfect medium to immortalize a brutal act, transforming a tragedy into a lasting, albeit disturbing, artifact. It makes you consider the social consequences of craft.