Inhuldiging van Willem V, prins van Oranje-Nassau, als erfelijk stadhouder van Utrecht, penning geschonken aan de manschappen van de compagnie "'t Fortuin" 1766

Hendrik Meijer created this silver medal to commemorate the investiture of Willem V as hereditary stadtholder of Utrecht in 1766. Medals such as this one were commissioned to mark important social and political events, and, in this case, it was gifted to the men of the company "'t Fortuin". On one side, four allegorical female figures are shown holding hands, representing unity and strength. The inscription "NOOIT TE SCHEIDEN - H:DE M:MYDIA" meaning "Never to be separated". On the other side, an inscription explains that it was gifted to the men of the company "'t Fortuin" by their officers. The Dutch Republic in the 18th century was characterized by political tensions between the stadtholders, who sought to centralize power, and the republican elites, who defended provincial autonomy. To understand better the medal's significance, one might investigate the history of the House of Orange-Nassau, and study the political and military history of the Dutch Republic.