Gouden koninklijke 10 € huwelijksmunt Willem-Alexander en Máxima before 2002

This is a ten-euro coin, likely minted in 2002, to mark the wedding of Willem-Alexander and Máxima. It was designed by Hans van Houwelingen. It’s made of gold, a material deeply associated with value, wealth, and the history of trade. The coin’s circular shape is also significant. It references wholeness, unity, and the cyclical nature of time. This particular coin is a marriage token, with the profiles of the King and Queen shown in silhouette. Minting techniques, die-striking and impressing images onto the metal, have long been used in the production of currency and commemorative objects. These methods require skilled labor, and the design itself speaks to a wider context of artistic and cultural values. The coin operates on both an economic and symbolic level. It makes you think about how even the most ordinary-seeming things are laden with the weight of materials, making, and meaning.