Hollandse gulden, 1793 1793

This Dutch coin, minted in 1793, is a fascinating vessel of symbolic meaning. On one side, we see the crowned Dutch lion, a heraldic symbol of power and sovereignty since the late Middle Ages. Turn the coin, and you'll see a female figure holding a staff topped with a hat. This is the Dutch Maiden, a personification of the Netherlands that emerged during the 16th-century Dutch Revolt. The Dutch Maiden is directly derived from classical antiquity, from allegorical female figures such as Roma or Libertas. We see the figure of Libertas—often depicted with a pileus, or freedman's hat—on Roman coins, celebrating the liberty of Roman citizens. This is a motif that has undergone a continuous process of adaptation and re-emergence. The symbolic power of this figure, rooted in the classical world, speaks to a deep, collective yearning for freedom and autonomy, a desire that transcends time.