Geboorte van prinses Juliana 1909 1909

This bronze coin, made by Cornelis Begeer in 1909, celebrates the birth of Princess Juliana. I like to think about the process, the hand, the mark of the tool on the metal. Looking at the profiles of the royal couple, you can see the artist's hand at work, almost like drawing in metal, scraping away at the surface to reveal the form. The texture of the coin is really interesting. There's this kind of rough, matte quality to the surface. It makes you want to reach out and touch it, to feel the history and the craft right there in your hand. The composition is very formal and dignified. In some ways, it's reminiscent of classical portraiture, but there’s a freshness to it. The way the light catches the raised surfaces gives the whole coin a sense of depth and movement. Maybe Begeer was thinking about renaissance portrait medals when he made this? Either way, it’s an amazing example of how something seemingly simple can be so rich and complex.