Vijf cent van Leopold I, koning der Belgen 1837

This is a five-cent coin of Leopold I, King of the Belgians, designed by Joseph-Pierre Braemt in the mid-19th century. The coin embodies the visual culture of a young nation-state finding its feet after the Belgian Revolution of 1830. On one side, a lion rests beside a tablet inscribed with ‘Constitution Belge 1831’, surrounded by the Dutch inscription ‘Eendragt maakt magt’, or ‘Unity makes strength’. On the reverse, we see a crowned ‘L’ monogram for Leopold. The images and inscriptions work to publicly associate the new kingdom with ideas of constitutionalism, national unity, and monarchical authority. The coin reflects the complex social and political forces that shaped the newly independent Belgium. Historical archives, government publications, and the writings of contemporary political theorists can help us understand the messages it conveys. Through these sources, we come to see how such artifacts were designed to shape public perceptions of the state and its role in society.