Slag bij Waterloo, ter ere van de hertog van Wellington en Blucher 1815

This silver medal commemorates the Battle of Waterloo and was created in 1815 by an anonymous artist. Minted after the defeat of Napoleon, it represents a moment of restored European order, dominated by male military figures like the Duke of Wellington and Blucher. The medal's imagery is laden with symbols of power and victory. On one side, an owl sits atop a shield bearing heraldic symbols, signaling wisdom and military strength. A sword and olive branch cross beneath, representing war and peace – the tools of governance for the victors. The other side bears an inscription, a public declaration of triumph and alliance. What is left out of this narrative is the brutal reality of war and the experiences of those marginalized by such conflicts. While celebrating the leaders, it overlooks the countless lives affected, the social disruptions caused, and the perspectives of women and people of color who were largely absent from these power structures. It reminds us to question whose stories are being told and whose are being erased.