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Hortus Medicus (1683- ), the botanic garden of the University of Amsterdam, was founded in 1682 by a decree of the Amsterdam City Council. The garden was planted in 1683. It is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world, created primarily to serve as an herb garden for doctors and apothecaries, and to heal the city after the bubonic plague. The first tokens that gave admission to the garden for physicians, surgeons and chemists were sold in 1684.

Token

Brass. Netherlands. Undated. Unsigned. Ticket of admission to the Botanic Gardens in Amsterdam for surgeons and physicians.

Size

45 mm

Artist

Unknown.

Obverse

Auricular cartouche with skull at the bottom; in the upper part, Amsterdam coat of arms (two lions supporting crowned shield with three crosses in a vertical line); in the lower part, JACOB BATEN BORG incused in the center.

Reverse

A skeleton with scythe in right hand; left resting on tomb and holding hourglass; on ground at left and right, tulips.

Ref

Storer 3865 (except incused date and name)

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