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1815 Netherlands & Belgium Unification Medal – King William I Engraved by Christophe-François Michaut | Major Historical Exonumia

1815 Netherlands & Belgium Unification Medal – King William I Engraved by Christophe-François Michaut | Major Historical Exonumia

$750.00
SKU:
C1551
Maximum Purchase:
1 unit
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1815 Netherlands & Belgium Unification Medal – King William I

Engraved by Christophe-François Michaut | Major Historical Exonumia

Overview

Acquire a monumental piece of early 19th-century European geopolitical history with this rare, uncirculated bronze medal commemorating the 1815 Unification of the Netherlands and Belgium. Featuring a powerful portrait of King William I of Orange-Nassau on the obverse, this magnificent piece was masterfully engraved by the celebrated artist Christophe-François Michaut.

Holding elite numismatic pedigree, this piece is cataloged as Number 38 in Jacob Dirks’ monumental reference work, Behoorende Bij de Beschrijving der Nederlandsche of op Nederland en Nederlanders betrekking hebbende Penningen.

Historical Significance

Following the fall of Napoleon and the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the United Kingdom of the Netherlands was forged, uniting the Dutch provinces and the Southern Netherlands (modern-day Belgium) under the reign of King William I. This short-lived union (which dissolved with the Belgian Revolution in 1830) represents one of the most fascinating transitional chapters in European history. Struck to celebrate this grand political consolidation, Michaut’s masterwork captures the sovereign's likeness during the zenith of his reign over the combined territories. Owning a medal referenced in Dirks' exhaustive historical catalog makes this an irreplaceable cornerstone for advanced collections of Dutch, Belgian, and Napoleonic-era exonumia.

Specifications & Condition

  • Issuing Country: Netherlands / Belgium (United Kingdom of the Netherlands)

  • Year of Issue: 1815

  • Subject: Unification of the Netherlands and Belgium

  • Obverse Feature: Portrait of King William I of Orange-Nassau

  • Engraver: Christophe-François Michaut

  • Catalog Reference: Jacob Dirks, Behoorende Bij de Beschrijving der Nederlandsche... Penningen – No. 38

  • Composition: Bronze

  • Condition: Uncirculated (Exquisite, museum-quality mint state preservation with sharp high-relief features and a rich, undisturbed historical patina)

  • Diameter: 2.836 inches (approx. 72 mm — an exceptionally large, commanding format)

  • Weight: 6.534 ounces (approx. 185.2 grams — a remarkably heavy, heavyweight art medal)

Why This Belong in Your Collection

  • Impeccable Scholarly Pedigree: Formally documented as Number 38 in Jacob Dirks’ definitive national medallic reference.

  • Master Engraver Attribution: Crafted by Christophe-François Michaut, renowned for his exquisite neoclassical medallic artistry.

  • Monumental Scale & Weight: Measuring over 2.8 inches across and tipping the scales at over 6.5 ounces, this massive bronze medal is an absolute showstopper that commands attention in any elite historical cabinet.

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