Vroedschapspenning van de stad 's-Hertogenbosch 1704

This is Theodorus Casparus van Berckel’s silver ‘Vroedschapspenning van de stad 's-Hertogenbosch’, made around the late 17th or early 18th century. The medal presents a circular composition dominated by the city's coat of arms at its centre, flanked by two allegorical figures. Note how the artist employed symmetry, carefully positioning the figures and text around the central emblem to create balance and order. The Latin text, ‘Vincat Amor Silvae’, borders the scene, embedding the image within a linguistic framework that invites further interpretation. The medal's design may be viewed through the lens of semiotics, where the coat of arms functions as a signifier of civic identity, and the surrounding figures and text enhance the medal's symbolic power. It reflects a world where symbols communicated messages of power, civic pride, and cultural identity. Note how the circular form itself, unbroken and continuous, reinforces a sense of unity and completeness, reflecting the aspirations of the city it represents. As such, this piece transcends its function as a mere token to become a complex statement about urban life.