Ter herinnering aan de plechtige intocht van Prins Willem V als erfstadhouder van de provincie Utrecht aan de burgers van de compagnie 't Fortuyn door hun officieren geschonken 1766

H. de Meyer created this silver medal to commemorate Prince William V's inauguration as hereditary stadtholder of the province of Utrecht. The medal presents the complexities of power and representation in 18th-century Dutch society. The allegorical figures on the front, likely representing virtues or provinces, stand as idealized symbols of the era's aspirations. They also show how the ruling elite used symbolic imagery to legitimize their power and project an image of stability and prosperity. The medal was gifted to the citizens of the 't Fortuyn company by their officers. This act can be seen as a gesture to foster loyalty and reinforce social hierarchies within the community. The medal not only commemorates a political event but also highlights the intricate relationships between rulers, officers, and citizens. This piece invites us to reflect on the ways in which power is negotiated, represented, and experienced at different levels of society.