Opening van het Noordzeekanaal, ter ere van Willem III, koning der Nederlanden, penning geslagen op last van de Amsterdamsche Kanaal Maatschappij 1876

This bronze medal, designed by Edouard Louis Geerts, commemorates the opening of the North Sea Canal in 1876. Its modest scale belies its significance. Minted at the behest of the Amsterdam Canal Company, it encapsulates the era's ambition for infrastructure and trade. Bronze, chosen for its durability and association with industry, speaks volumes. The medal's creation involved skilled die-cutting and stamping—processes reflecting the precision and mechanization of the late 19th century. The portrait of King Willem III, carefully rendered, highlights the connection between monarchy and industrial progress. Consider the labor embedded in this object: from the mining of the metal to the design and production of the die. The medal testifies to the transformation of the Netherlands through engineering, a feat enabled by human effort on a massive scale. This medal transcends mere commemoration; it's a material embodiment of progress, labor, and the intertwined histories of craft, industry, and national identity.