Verheffing van de prins van Oranje tot stadhouder door de Staten van Zeeland 1747

This silver medal was crafted by Martin Holtzhey to commemorate the appointment of Prince William IV of Orange as Stadtholder of Zeeland. On one side, we see a figure reminiscent of Minerva, helmeted and armed, standing firm. In her hand, a spear; at her feet, a serpent, symbols of wisdom and vigilance. But consider how these symbols transcend this single moment. Minerva, or Athena, the Roman and Greek goddess, has appeared across millennia, embodying strategic warfare and skill. The serpent, too, is a potent image of both chaos and healing, shedding its skin to be reborn, an emblem seen from ancient mythologies to modern medicine. The re-emergence of these classical figures in the 18th century is no accident. It represents a cultural memory, a reaching back to the perceived order and glory of the ancient world. The Stadtholder’s elevation is thus framed not merely as a political event, but as a moment of revived virtue, tapping into a deep well of collective longing for strength and stability. This is more than a medal; it's a psychological mirror reflecting enduring human desires.