Voorgenomen huwelijk van Willem IV met prinses Anna van Engeland 1733

This silver medal, commemorating the intended marriage of Willem IV and Princess Anna of England, was crafted by Martin Holtzhey. Holtzhey would have begun by creating dies, or hardened steel stamps, carefully engraved with the design in reverse. These would then be used to strike the medal, forcing the soft silver into the intricate forms we see. The material itself speaks volumes. Silver, a precious metal, underscores the importance of the occasion. The sharp, precise details achievable through striking highlight the skill of the die-cutter and the sophistication of the technology. Although appearing effortless, the medal embodies skilled labor. But beyond mere commemoration, the medal functioned as a form of propaganda, a carefully controlled message circulated amongst the elite. The very act of producing and distributing such an object was a statement of power and prestige. It's a reminder that even seemingly simple objects can carry complex social and political weight.