Westfriese drie gulden, 1786 1786

This is a silver Westfriese Drie Gulden coin, struck in 1786 in West Friesland. Dominating the coin’s face is a crowned shield bearing a rampant lion, a symbol resonating deeply within the collective consciousness of Europe as it signifies strength, courage, and nobility. Observe how this heraldic lion mirrors those found on medieval standards and royal emblems throughout the continent, each bearing regional variations yet unified by a shared symbolic language of power and authority. Consider the Lion Gate at Mycenae, dating back to 13th century BC, where the lion motif served to protect and empower the city. The lion embodies the primal energies of aggression and leadership, invoking our deepest-seated notions of dominance. Notice the crown poised above the lion. This emblem, a universal symbol of authority and divine right, can be traced back to ancient headdresses of pharaohs and emperors. This coin speaks to the enduring human need to create visible symbols of power, echoing across millennia, constantly reinvented yet perpetually resonant.