(1677) Bronze Medal Betts-52, Victory at Tobago

Coin Details

Auction Record

$3,840 MS64BN 08-24-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

This bronze medal, Betts-52, commemorates a Dutch victory at Tobago in 1677 during the Franco-Dutch War. Tobago, located in the southern Caribbean near Trinidad, was contested between multiple European powers throughout the seventeenth century. In 1677, Dutch forces achieved a notable victory at Tobago against French forces, temporarily securing Dutch control of the island. The battle was part of the broader Franco-Dutch War that pitted France against the Dutch Republic across multiple theaters including Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Colonial medals served multiple functions simultaneously: as propaganda tools promoting imperial policy, as diplomatic gifts establishing relationships with indigenous peoples and rival powers, and as commemorative art preserving historical memory. Tobago would continue to change hands between European powers for over a century before finally becoming British in 1814.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Caribbean naval battle medals from the 1670s are seldom encountered.

Cross References

Betts-52