Geboorte van prins Leopold van Oostenrijk, penning geslagen door de provincie Namen 1716

This is a medal made in the province of Namur to celebrate the birth of Prince Leopold of Austria. Although the artist is unknown, it's the kind of object that can tell us a lot about the society and institutions that produced it. On one side, we see a double-headed eagle, a symbol associated with the Holy Roman Empire, and text indicating Leopold's status as a future heir. The other side bears the year of his birth, 1716, along with a crowned heraldic lion, the symbol of Namur. The very act of creating such a medal speaks to the established social order. Consider the role of provincial authorities in commissioning this work and its function in celebrating dynastic succession. It’s an interesting example of how power is visually communicated and how regional identity intertwines with larger imperial structures. By studying such objects, we can better understand the visual and material culture of 18th-century Europe and the ways in which art reinforced social and political hierarchies. Resources like local archives would help us discover who commissioned this medal.