Zilveren dukaat van de Bataafse Republiek op naam van Zeeland, 1795 1795

This silver ducat was minted in 1795 by the Batavian Republic for Zeeland. Notice the crowned coat of arms bearing a lion, a symbol of courage and nobility, deeply rooted in European heraldry. On the reverse, a maiden stands armed, representing freedom. Such figures draw from a long line of allegorical representations, echoing classical ideals of virtue and liberty. Consider how the armed maiden relates to ancient depictions of Minerva or Athena, goddesses of wisdom and warfare. This visual language taps into a collective memory, evoking a sense of timeless values. Yet, the context shifts with time. The lion, once a straightforward emblem of power, now appears within a Republic seeking to redefine itself, subtly altering the symbol's connotations. The emotional power of these symbols lies in their adaptability, their capacity to resonate across epochs while reflecting the anxieties and aspirations of a given moment. Through such images, we witness the cyclical return of archetypes, each iteration imbued with new meaning.