Drie gulden van de Bataafse Republiek op naam van West-Friesland, 1795 1795

This silver three-guilder coin was produced in 1795 by the Batavian Republic, a sister republic of revolutionary France. It encapsulates a pivotal moment of political and social upheaval. On one side, the coin features the crowned arms of West Friesland, symbolizing regional identity. Turn the coin over, and you’ll see a standing figure of Liberty. She leans on an altar, embodying Enlightenment ideals of freedom and reason, while also echoing classical representations of virtuous femininity. The inscription proclaims, "HANC NITIMUR TUTAMUR," or "We strive to maintain her." However, the coin tells a more complex story. The Batavian Republic was formed after a French invasion and the exile of the Dutch Stadtholder. It was a state built on revolution and shifting alliances, and while it brought progressive reforms, it also suffered from instability and French control. The coin is a reminder that ideals of liberty and independence are always contingent, shaped by the push and pull of power, and that even the most revolutionary moments are rooted in specific histories and geographies.