Commemorative Medal for the Church of Our Lady of Laeken, 1854

A few days after the death of Queen Louise-Marie in October 1850, it was established by royal decree that a new church be built in Laeken in honour of the late queen. Meanwhile, a spontaneous fundraising campaign was organised across the country to establish a hospital in her name. Eventually, the Catholic government decided to use the money raised to build the church, and also to set up a royal crypt there. Jozef Poelaert was appointed as architect, who chose a neo-Gothic design. For the laying of the foundation stone in 1854, bronze and silver commemorative medals were struck to commemorate the death of the sovereign, by means of an inscription on the reverse. The obverse depicts the new church.