Geboorte van Frederika Louise Wilhelmina, prinses van Oranje-Nassau 1770

This small silver medal commemorates the birth of Frederika Louise Wilhelmina, princess of Orange-Nassau, in 1770. While the artist remains anonymous, the medal offers a glimpse into the cultural values and political climate of the Dutch Republic at the time. On one side, we see a woman, presumably the princess’s mother, seated with a baby in her arms, sheltered by a woven fence under a radiant sun. The medal not only celebrates new life but also speaks to the role of women, motherhood, and dynastic succession in 18th-century Dutch society. The reverse side bears the inscription: "This a gift from Heaven's hand, to salvation of free Netherlands." In a society where the monarchy held significant political power, the birth of a princess was seen as a divine blessing, integral to the nation's destiny. While seemingly a simple commemorative object, this medal speaks to the complex interplay between gender, power, and national identity.