Overlijden van de muntverzamelaar Cornelis Nicolai 1698

This small medal, commemorating the death of Cornelis Nicolai, was created by Jan Boskam in the early 18th century. The silver was likely cast, then carefully chased with tools to bring out the figures and inscriptions. The medal's design includes allegorical figures and Latin text, reflecting a culture deeply rooted in classical learning. On one side, we see symbols of Nicolai’s life: coins scattered on the ground, a testament to his profession as a coin collector. The inscriptions are all painstakingly hand-tooled, which speaks to the skill and time investment required. This handwork contrasts with the medal’s implicit connection to finance and trade. The act of memorializing Nicolai in this way speaks to his status, and it also represents an interesting twist. Here, money is not merely a medium of exchange, but the literal material of memory, transformed by artistry into a commemoration of life. This piece challenges our conventional distinctions between craft and fine art, inviting us to consider the social and economic contexts that shape all forms of creative expression.