Netherlands Medal 1874 William III — Silver Jubilee of his reign - by de Vries junior EF-

Netherlands. King William III — Silver Jubilee of his reign, 12 May 1874. Large commemorative medal by Moses Cohen de Vries junior.

Obverse: William III seated on a throne, holding a sceptre and orb, accompanied by three female personifications representing Justice, the Netherlands and Liberty. Their attributes include a tablet inscribed GROND WET, a fasces, the Dutch coat of arms, a liberty cap, a palm branch and a bird’s nest.

Legend: MET WET, VRYHEID, EN EENDRAGT — “With law, liberty and concord.”

The inscriptions at the sides commemorate the king’s inauguration in Amsterdam on 12 May 1849 and its solemn remembrance by the Netherlands.

Reverse: The crowned Dutch coat of arms supported by two lions above the motto JE MAINTIENDRAI. Below is an eight-line Dutch poem celebrating the king’s twenty-five years of government and the loyalty of his subjects.

Surrounding legend: ZILVEREN KRONINGSFEEST VAN Z.M. WILLEM III.
Dated below: 12 MEI 1874.

The medal commemorates the twenty-fifth anniversary of William III’s inauguration. Its allegorical composition presents the monarchy in association with constitutional law, liberty and national concord. “Silver Jubilee” refers to the anniversary.

References: Zwierzina 292; Oranjepenningen 1308. The type is also documented in Wil de echte De Vries opstaan? (Jaarboek voor Munt- en Penningkunde, 2025), no. 2.37.

Weight: 110 g.
Diameter: 66.3 mm.

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