Overlijden van P.A. Louis de Coster, medeoprichter van de Societe Royale de Numismatique de Belgique 1879

This bronze medal, commemorating the death of P.A. Louis de Coster, was created by Henri Charles Wurden. The medal presents us with two distinct sides, each composed to convey separate yet related symbolic meanings. The first side is dominated by a high-relief portrait of de Coster, enclosed by his name, emphasizing individuality and achievement. Turn the medal over, and the visual field is now overtaken by a wreath encircling an inscription. The text memorializes de Coster as co-founder of the Royal Numismatic Society of Belgium, framing him not as an individual but within a collective and institutional context. The shift from individual portrait to collective memory suggests an exploration of how historical figures transition from personal identity to public symbol. Wurden's medal doesn't just commemorate a man; it encodes a semiotic dialogue about legacy and representation, inviting ongoing interpretation.