Geboorte van Frederika Louise Wilhelmina, prinses van Oranje-Nassau 1770

This silver medal commemorates the birth of Frederika Louise Wilhelmina in 1770. An angel descends from the clouds, offering a coronet to a seated woman under a tree. This iconography draws from a wellspring of classical and Christian imagery. The angel, a messenger of divine favor, echoes figures like the angel Gabriel in annunciations, symbolizing purity and destiny. Yet, the coronet, a symbol of sovereignty, links back to classical depictions of Fortuna, the goddess of fortune, bestowing blessings. The woman, receiving the coronet, embodies both earthly and divine favor, embodying the hopes invested in the newborn princess. Consider how such motifs recur throughout history. Angels appear across time, from Byzantine mosaics to Renaissance paintings, always carrying a message, a promise, or a decree. The tree, a symbol of life and lineage, is the family tree, a sign of dynastic continuity. These symbols tap into a collective memory, a deep-seated desire for order and continuity, engaging us on a visceral level. These symbols are never static, they evolve, adapt, and resurface, carrying echoes of the past into the present.