EVANGELICAL REFORMS CANNOT BE CONCEDED IN GENEVA
(The 'Well-Being' of the City of Geneva Since the Reformation)

DASSIER, Jean: Swiss, 1749, Bronze, 68 mm
Obv: View of City of Geneva and hills in the background. In foreground, a harbor with ships, some of which are engaged in battle     POST TENEBRAS LUX (After the Darkness, the Light)
Exergue:  RESPUBLICA GENEVENSIS
Rev: Religion (Geneva), sitting with a book, with a cherub standing at her side who is holding a staff with the Cap of Liberty, is surrounded by Putti representing Industry, Science and Trade. River gods are on cliffs holding vessels from which water cascades. Inscribed on the jars of water are the Rhone (left jar) and the Sea (right)     HAEC OTIA FECIT. (By this Was Brought about Peace and Tranquility).
Exergue:  EVANG. REFORM. ACCEP. AN. MDXXXV NUN. CUSUS AN. 1749 (Evangelical Reform Accepted in the Year 1535 Surely Not to Be Conceded in the Year 1749).
Signed:  JEAN DASSIER. F.
From Jean Dassier's Geneva Series
Ref: Forrer 342; W. 3103 (Ag); Haller II, 1906; Thompson 47/08;  Whiting Collection 63/478;  Europese Penningen # 1841;  Weiss BW050

Under freedoms guaranteed to Geneva by France, its citizens formed a sovereign council which had the powers to make laws and to decide matters of importance to the public. From members of a great council, a small council was chosen to exercise executive power and was entrusted to take care of the public treasury and to manage everyday business. Jean Dassier, himself, was elected to serve on this council for a period of time. This arrangement proved to be very satisfactory for the people, and Geneva became quite prosperous. However, some felt that this form of government was not equitable and there were attempts to change the constitution of Geneva. This was seen by some citizens to be an attempt to also overturn the Protestant Reformation. This medal alludes to the prosperity the City of Geneva enjoyed during the period since the Protestant Reformation and asserts that these Evangelical reforms would not be conceded. (from Thompson)

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