Catalog Reference

V.L. Sup. 567a

This medal was intended for distribution to the Dutch sailors present for the naval battle with the English in the area of the North Sea called the Doggersbank, a battle that helped galvanize Dutch attitudes against the English and in favor of their American opponents. Though the battle was a stalemate, given the size and power of the Royal Navy, it was a moral victory for the Dutch. Gold medals from these dies were coined for officers of top rank, but they are extremely rare and all known specimens appear to be in Dutch institutional collections.

Its oval shape makes it unusual in the Betts series, but so too does its status as an actual military honor and not a simple commemorative piece. That particular usage meant this medal usually was worn on a uniform and polished to brightness rather than resting comfortable in a velvet-lined mahogany drawer.