Verheffing van Willem IV, prins van Oranje-Nassau, tot admiraal en kapitein-generaal der Verenigde Nederlanden

This bronze medal commemorates the elevation of William IV to Admiral and Captain-General of the United Netherlands, and it was made anonymously in 1747. Medals like this one functioned as propaganda, circulating images of power to a wide audience. Here, the visual codes are clear: on one side we see William IV on horseback, a traditional symbol of military leadership. The other side features a crowned lion rampant, the heraldic symbol of the Netherlands, within an elaborate shield. In the 18th century, the Dutch Republic was a major economic and naval power, but it was also deeply divided politically between supporters of the House of Orange and those who favored a more republican form of government. William's appointment came at a time of crisis during the War of the Austrian Succession, and this medal celebrates his role as a unifying figure. To fully understand this medal, we can consult period documents, political pamphlets, and even popular songs. This helps us to appreciate how such images were used to shape public opinion and legitimize political authority within a specific institutional and social context.