Eed van Leopold van Saksen-Coburg op de constitutie 1831

This bronze medal commemorating Leopold of Saxe-Coburg’s oath to the constitution was created by Joseph-Pierre Braemt in the early 1830s. The medal’s modest size and material speak to its function as a memento, produced and circulated widely to mark a key political moment. Its materiality also reflects a shift in the way power was represented at the time. While cast bronze had long been used for monumental sculpture, here it is pressed into service for a commemorative object. The relatively low cost and ease of production of striking medals allowed for broader distribution than traditional art forms. Consider the labor involved; the medal was likely made using industrial processes, hinting at evolving notions of production. The detailed relief of the lion and inscription demonstrate the skill and precision required for die-making. By examining the medal's material and production, we can better understand its cultural significance and how it reflects the changing dynamics of politics and society in the 19th century.