Bezoek van Willem II, koning der Nederlanden, aan de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Munt te Utrecht 1841

This silver medal commemorates the visit of Willem II, King of the Netherlands, to the Royal Dutch Mint in Utrecht. It's a fascinating object as it highlights the intersection of royal power, economic institutions, and civic pride in 19th-century Netherlands. On one side, we see a profile portrait of Willem II, surrounded by his title. The other side bears an inscription of gratitude from the city of Utrecht to the King, framed by wreaths and symbols of royalty and the city itself. The medal tells us about the social and political function of monarchy. Willem II wanted to present himself as a modernizing monarch. This visit to the Mint, and its commemoration in the form of this medal, was a part of this project of image-building. To fully understand the medal's significance, we'd need to explore archives and historical records to uncover the specific circumstances of the royal visit and the Mint's role in the Dutch economy. Only then can we truly understand the interplay of power and representation in this small, but telling, object.