Vroedschapspenning van de stad 's-Hertogenbosch 1705

This is a silver vroedschapspenning, a council medal, made by Theodorus Casparus van Berckel, who lived from 1680 to 1734. These medals were given to members of the city council of 's-Hertogenbosch, a Dutch city, to commemorate their service. The medal encapsulates much about the socio-political environment of the Dutch Republic at the time. Note how the imagery on the medal draws from classical allegory. Justice with her scales is depicted with the all-seeing eye of providence. Such symbolism, rooted in the Enlightenment, reflects the values the city council wished to project: reason, justice, and divine guidance. The depiction of the city itself on the medal represents civic pride and identity. The vroedschapspenning offers a glimpse into the complex relationship between power, identity, and representation in the Dutch Golden Age. It reminds us that even seemingly simple objects can tell us stories about who we are and how we see ourselves, both individually and collectively.