Nomos 23

THE DUTCH REPUBLIC. Uncertain city. L. Gaillard and I. G. Groneman, 1797. Anniversary Medal (Silver, 46 mm, 31.57 g, 12 h), engraved medal on the 25th wedding anniversary of L. Gaillard and I. G. Groneman, 5 March 1797. Wreath over two clasped right hands; below, 5 / 17 - 97 / 3 over an olive and a palm branch. Rev. Toen / L. GAILLARD / en I. G. GRONEMAN / waren 25 Jaar Getrouwt / in 't leeven zyn desen / Penninge aan / haaren Kinderen / ter Gedagtenis / gegeven (= When L. Gaillard and I. G. Groneman had been married for 25 years, they gave this commemorative medal to their children). No references found. Lightly toned, hand engraved and more-or-less as made. Contemporary piercing with suspension loop, otherwise, extremely fine.

Apparently, the anniversary couple, which this medal commemorates, was rather well-known for their miserly nature, rarely ever giving presents or subventions to their employees, friends or family. Some modern Dutch sources suggest that the children, of which there were several, were so angry that while they walked around wearing this medal on a chain, they wore it with a coat embroidered with the following motto: Onze ouders waren 25 jaar getrouwd en we krijgen alleen deze waardeloze medaille. Earlier this would have been considered quite disrespectful, but since the Netherlands had been conquered by Revolutionary France in 1795, young people began to feel rebelliously free to express themselves.