Nomos 12

NETHERLANDS, The Dutch Republic. Amsterdam. Plaquettepenning, or Hollow medal (Silver, 78mm, 107.60 g 12), on the Four Days Battle (11-14 June 1666), by Wouter Muller, 1666. +DE RUYTER DIE DEN BRIT SYN MOET GETEUGELT HEEFT ALDUS DOOR MULLERS HANT INT GOUD EN SILUER LEEFT.A°MDCLXVI DEN XIIII IUNY (=De Ruyter, who checked the courage of the English, thus lives in gold and silver by the hand of Muller, 14th of June, 1666) Facing armored bust of De Ruyter, turned slightly to the right, crowned by two Tritons and with arms and banners to each side. Rev. HIER STRYCKT HET BRITSCH GEWELT VOOR NEDERLANT DE VLAGH DE ZEE HEEFT NOT GEWAEGHT VAN ZULK EEN ZWAREDN SLAGH (=Here the British forces strike their flag to the Dutch; never did the sea resound with such a tremendous conflict) Scene of the sea battle. Frederiks 9/9a. MI, I, p. 521, 167. Van Loon II, p. 527, iv. Very well made, in high relief and attractively toned. Extremely fine.

This medal commemorates one of the longest sea battles in history, The Four Days Battle, one of the major events of the Second Anglo Dutch War (1665-1667). It went on, in some ways inconclusively, until the British fleet managed to sail away into a fog bank: both sides claimed victory, but the British were definitely bested. In the end, however, the battle had no long term effect.