Fidele jusqu'a l'infamie, penningen geslagen naar aanleiding van het bezoek van Willem I aan Luik 1829

This small medal was struck anonymously to mark King William I’s visit to Liège. It is made of silver, a relatively precious material, cold-worked in a die. The process of striking medals has long been associated with political propaganda. Here, the choice of silver would have given the object a sense of permanence and value, befitting the King’s status. Look closely and you can see the crisp detail achieved by the die-striking process, which allowed for the reproduction of intricate designs and text. The inscription and symbolic imagery are meant to convey a specific message about loyalty and perhaps even warn of betrayal. Consider the amount of labor involved in designing and producing such an object, from the initial sketches to the final polishing. The medal’s creation reflects a complex interplay of artistic skill, technical expertise, and political agenda. It’s a reminder that even seemingly simple objects can carry deep social and cultural significance, challenging our understanding of the relationship between art, craft, and power.