Bezetting van Delfshaven, ter ere van Willem V, prins van Oranje-Nassau en Wilhelmina van Pruisen 1787

This silver medal, commemorating the occupation of Delfshaven, honors Willem V, Prince of Orange-Nassau, and Wilhelmina of Prussia. Notice on one side, the conjoined busts of Willem and Wilhelmina, symbols of dynastic power and unity. On the other side, military arms rest, draped with garlands, next to a scene of war. The arrangement of weaponry—cannons, flags—has appeared in various contexts throughout history, from Roman trophies to Renaissance battle scenes, each time adapted to convey victory and authority. This imagery carries echoes of past triumphs, resonating deeply within our collective memory. Consider the garland, a symbol of celebration. We’ve seen floral wreaths adorning the heads of victors and deities, a tradition stretching back to ancient Greece. But here, intertwined with weapons, it presents a complex message: triumph tinged with the somber realities of conflict. This juxtaposition engages viewers on a subconscious level, stirring both pride and a subtle unease. Thus, the medal captures a moment in time, it also weaves it into the long, cyclical progression of symbols and cultural memory.