William III, Prince of Orange
Minerva Teaching William
Silver, joined shells, 64.9 mm Ø, 50.2 g
By Pieter van Abeele, dated 1654.
Obverse: Bust of William facing three-quarters right, wearing plumed hat. On a banner under the bust, WILHELMVS III D · G / PRINC · ARAVS · ETC · / AN / 1654 (William III, by the grace of God, Prince of Orange, etcetera). To left of bust, PVA · F · (Pieter van Abeele made it). All surrounded by wreath of oranges.
Reverse: Young William standing facing right, wearing laurel wreath and classical cloak, holding commander's baton. Minerva seated facing left, holding Gorgoneion shield and spear with left hand, gesturing upwards with right. An owl is at her feet. Above, in sunburst, יהוה (Hebrew for Jehovah). In the background, The Hague. In banner to the left, TIME DEVM (Fear God). To the right, P V AB · F · (Pieter van Abeele made it). All surrounded by laurel wreath.
The reverse of this medal refers to the education of William by his mother, Mary, Princess Royal, in the guise of Minerva. Van Loon states that this medal was made in response to the young William being elected stadtholder in 1654, in response to the Act of Seclusion, which barred William from that office. The military dress and baton that William holds as a symbol of authority gives evidence to this interpretation.
References:
Van Loon 1732-37, vol. 2, p. 376.1
[ Van Loon 2021, no. 1654.8 ]
Frederiks 1943, p. 7, no. 2b/2c
Scher 1997, no. 18
Scher 2019, no. 769