Death of the Dutch Commander at the Final Battle
of the First Anglo-Dutch War (1652-1654)

418, Lot: 596. Estimate $100. Sold for $260. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LOW COUNTRIES, Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden (Dutch Republic). Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp, Lieutenant-Admiral. 1598-1653. Cast Æ Medal (70mm, 86.2 g, 12h). On his death at the Battle of Ter Heijde, 10 August 1653. By P. van Abeele. Contemporary or later cast after a 1653. · MART · HERP · TROMP · R · L · ADM · V · HOLLE · WESTV ·, bust facing slightly right, wearing gorget and medal, set on an ornate background; Ao 1653 · below bust; (PvA) on truncation of arm; all within wreathed border / Crested familial coat-of-arms with griffin supporters; behind, two anchors crossed in saltire; OBYT Æ 56 (died at the age of 56) on banner above; below, scene of the Battle of Ter Heijde with Commonwealth ship sinking in the foreground. Van Loon II 376; MI 402/32; Eimer –. Good VF. Rare.

Collector’s note: “This Dutch medal is believed to be a contemporary bronze cast of the silver medal created in 1653 in honor of Admiral Tromp, who died in action with the English fleet at the battle of Texel in 1653. The obverse has one of the best portraits of Admiral Tromp, with the reverse depicting his coat of arms with griffins and a small scene of the action.”