Verheffing van de prins van Oranje tot stadhouder, penning uitgedeeld aan de schutters van de stad Haarlem ter ere van de doortocht van de prins door de stad

This is a medal by Gerrit Marshoorn, likely crafted from silver around 1747. It commemorates the elevation of Prince William IV of Orange-Nassau to Stadtholder, a significant event in Dutch history. The medal was distributed to members of the civic guard – the ‘schutters’ – in Haarlem, celebrating the Prince’s passage through the city. Medals like these are interesting, because they act as propaganda, but also tangible objects through which political allegiance was expressed. The imagery is important here. The portrait of the Prince and inscription are visual and textual statements of support. The medal was likely commissioned by the city council or a similar civic body, demonstrating the close relationship between political power and urban institutions. To understand this object fully, a historian would consult city archives, guild records, and pamphlets from the period. These sources help uncover the complex social forces that shaped the production and reception of such commemorative objects.