Inhuldiging van Willem V, prins van Oranje-Nassau, als erfelijk stadhouder van de Nederlanden 1766

This medal commemorates the inauguration of Willem V as hereditary stadtholder of the Netherlands. Though its creator remains unknown, it was struck in 1766. The medal's design centers on two distinct yet formally related sides. One side presents a profile of Willem V, framed by an inscription that curves along the medal’s edge, while the other side displays a complex heraldic crest, similarly bordered by text. The texture and color of the metal provide a tactile and visual unity, yet the contrasting imagery creates a semiotic dialogue. The portrait and heraldry function as signs of power and succession. The choice of circular format is not arbitrary; it suggests continuity and completion, reinforcing the idea of inherited authority. The medal is not merely an aesthetic object; it is a concentrated expression of political ideology, employing visual language to affirm dynastic legitimacy.