Tien stuiver, noodmunt van de Verenigde Belgische Staten 1790

This silver coin, designed by Dutch engraver Theodorus Victor van Berckel in 1790, is a "Tien stuiver" (ten-stuiver) or a "noodmunt" (emergency coin) of the short-lived "Verenigde Belgische Staten" (United Belgian States). The obverse features the heraldic lion of the United Belgian States while the reverse displays a handshake symbolizing unity, a crucial element in the struggle for independence. This artwork is a fascinating historical artifact, representing a brief and turbulent period in Belgian history.