Welvaart van de Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden 1616

This coin, likely from the 17th century, bears powerful emblems of the Dutch Republic. One side shows a tree, perhaps a willow, resiliently growing from water, encircled by the words ‘Tandem fit surculus arbor’, meaning ‘Eventually the twig becomes a tree’. This symbol speaks to the young Republic's burgeoning strength and wealth, against all odds, as the tree itself becomes a metaphor for growth, resilience, and the cyclical nature of life. The tree here reminds us of similar images across cultures, like the Tree of Life, or the World Tree Yggdrasil, each resonating with subconscious notions of growth. But in this image, the tree's situation is significant – emerging from water, it evokes the Dutch struggle against the sea and their triumph over adversity. Like a phoenix rising from ashes, this symbol recurs across time, transformed yet intrinsically linked, engaging us on a primal level with the enduring power of hope.