Sluiting van het Commercietractaat tussen de Verenigde Staten van Amerika en de Staten-Generaal der Verenigde Nederlanden te 's-Gravenhage

This silver medal was crafted by Johan George Holtzhey to commemorate the trade agreement between the United States and the Dutch Republic. The medal serves as a material witness to the birth of a new nation and the shifting global trade landscape of the late 18th century. On one side we see allegorical figures celebrating the newly formed alliance. The radiant figures are perched above symbols of maritime trade, but look closer, the figures are distinctly gendered, reflecting the era’s conventions of feminine virtue and masculine authority. Flip the coin and you’ll see an image of a woman with a trumpet riding on clouds. It’s a representation of Fame, announcing the treaty to the world. The medal is a fascinating intersection of art, politics, and economics; capturing the optimism and the underlying power dynamics of this historic moment.