Gedenkpenning intocht te Kampen van Prins Willem V als erfstadhouder, admiraal en kapitein-generaal der Vereenigde Nederlanden c. 1766

This is a silver medal, crafted by Johan George Holtzhey to commemorate Prince William V's arrival in Kampen. Dominating the scene is the figure of William V, positioned before a classical altar adorned with symbols of power, bearing witness to the deep-seated human need for symbolic representation of authority. Observe the recurring motif of the lion, a symbol ubiquitous in heraldry, adorning the Prince’s coat-of-arms and standing for courage and nobility. This echoes the ancient Mesopotamian lion imagery symbolizing royal power, thus linking William V to a centuries-old tradition of leadership. The classical altar reminds us of the Ara Pacis, the altar of Peace of Augustan Rome, designed to evoke an emotional response, instilling a sense of awe and respect for the ruler. This medal then, through its deliberate iconography, taps into our collective memory, reminding us of the archetypal images of leadership and power that persist through time. It evokes the cyclical nature of history, where symbols resurface, carrying echoes of past meanings into the present.