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

This medal was made in 1766 by an anonymous maker, to commemorate the investiture of William V as hereditary stadtholder of the Netherlands. The medal is made of silver, likely die-struck - a process involving a tremendous force to impress an image into a blank disc. We can see the results in the crisp lettering and detailed imagery of William being presented to the allegorical figure of the Netherlands. Silver lends itself well to this kind of precision, capable of taking fine detail. Consider the labor involved in creating this object. From mining the silver to refining it, designing the dies, and operating the machinery, the medal speaks to a complex web of craft, industry, and political power. It serves as a reminder that even the smallest objects can embody larger social and economic forces.