Inhuldiging van Koningin Wilhelmina 1898 1898

This is a silver medal by Bart van Hove, commemorating the inauguration of Queen Wilhelmina in 1898. Wilhelmina ascended the throne at the young age of 18, embodying a sense of national pride and unity during a period of significant social and political change in the Netherlands. The medal presents Wilhelmina in profile, alongside an allegorical figure representing the Dutch nation. This figure extends a hand to the young queen in a gesture of acceptance. The lion, a traditional symbol of the Netherlands, rests peacefully at their feet, suggesting a harmonious transition of power. The imagery evokes a sense of optimism for the future, but also underscores the weight of expectation placed upon Wilhelmina as a female monarch in a patriarchal society. The medal not only commemorates a historical event, but also embodies the complex intersections of gender, power, and national identity at the turn of the century. It speaks to the symbolic role of monarchy in shaping collective identity and historical memory.