Invoering van de nieuwe gezangen in de Evangelisch Luthersche Kerk 1827 1827

This silver medal, commemorating the introduction of new hymns into the Evangelical Lutheran Church, was designed by David van der Kellen in 1827. The crispness of the imagery is achieved by die-striking, a process by which a metal disc is pressed between two hardened steel dies. The resulting impression captures fine details: note the flowing drapery of the allegorical figure on one side, and the precisely rendered laurel wreath on the other. Die-striking was an industrial process, and as such, this medal reflects the increasing mechanization of early 19th-century manufacturing. The level of skill that went into the design and execution of the dies would have demanded high levels of training and specialization. The very act of minting a medal elevates a specific event to a level of historical importance. It speaks volumes about how institutions seek to create and control collective memory. The use of industrial processes for this purpose further underscores the intersection of technology, culture, and social identity in the modern era.