Bevrijding van Nederland en capitulatie van Duitsland, 1945 1945

This is a commemorative coin made in 1945 by J.Ph. van Zegveld, marking the liberation of the Netherlands and the capitulation of Germany. The imagery on the coin tells a complex story of the end of a dark period. On one side, a defiant lion stands enclosed behind a fence bearing a gate, brandishing a sword-like weapon. The Dutch text translates to ‘Holland grew great again, Holland is free again.’ The lion, a historic symbol of Dutch royalty, is contained but unbroken, a potent metaphor for a nation occupied yet unbowed. The reverse shows a rifle laid horizontally, a burning torch laid over it, and text indicating the dates of capitulation. The imagery of destruction also hints at the complex process of rebuilding a nation. This coin embodies collective trauma, hope, and the negotiation between resilience and vulnerability. It’s a stark reminder of the emotional weight carried by objects that commemorate significant historical events.