Verheffing van de prins van Oranje tot stadhouder 1747

This is a silver medal by Martin Holtzhey commemorating the elevation of Prince William IV to Stadtholder in 1747, a pivotal moment in Dutch history. The medal reflects the complex interplay between identity, power, and national sentiment. On one side, we see a classical portrait of William, an idealized image meant to project authority and virtue. Turn the medal and you’ll see inscriptions praising his leadership and valor, celebrating him as a shield of freedom and religion. But this narrative of unity and strength obscures deeper tensions. William's rise occurred during a period of political instability and social unrest. While he was seen as a symbol of hope by some, others viewed him as a figure of autocratic power. The medal, therefore, becomes a site where competing narratives of Dutch identity and political legitimacy collide. Consider how such objects shape our understanding of the past, reminding us that history is never a single, straightforward story, but a collection of perspectives.