Nomos 12

NETHERLANDS, The Dutch Republic. Gelders. Medal (Silver, 58mm, 60.80 g 12), on the refusal of the Remonstrant Minister Johannes Uytenbogaert to appear before the Synod of Dordrecht; by Johan Wyntgens, mintmaster in Gelders, 1619. EST A PRESSURA LARGIOR ET MELIOR 16 19 (=the more it is pressed, the more abundant and better it is) Large bunch of grapes held by a hand extended from clouds enclosing the name of Jehovah in rays; on the left, wine press from which wine pours into a basin; on the right, a vineyard. Rev. QVIA ME VESTIGA TERRENT I W (=it is the remains that terrify me), followed by the engraver’s initials. Fox walking to the right, before a cavern, in which a lion reclines amidst bones and an animal’s skull, and towards which hoof prints lead but do not come out. Van Loon II, pp. 111-113. A remarkably attractive medal, replete with allegorical symbolism. Beautifully toned, a superb example. Good extremely fine.

Johannes Uytenbogaert (1557-1644) was a prominent religious figure during the early Dutch Republic. He helped to found the Remonstrant movement of the Reformed Dutch Church, which was in opposition to Maurice of Orange and the orthodox Calvinists. This led to his conviction by the Synod of Dordrecht in 1618 - he did not appear at the trial but fled the country. He lived in exile in Antwerp and Rouen until Maurice’s death in April 1625, when he was able to return in 1626; he continued to preach until his own death in 1644. This medal commemorates his refusal to attend the Synod: the obverse symbolizes the fact that the pressure put on him resulted in even finer discourse, while the reverse implies that Uytenbogaert was much too wise to accede to the invitation to attend the Synod, since he would have surely been convicted there (which, in fact, he was) and probably executed (as was the great Dutch patriot Johan von Oldenbarnevelt, another opponent of Maurice’s).