View All Rhode Island Ship Tokens

1779 Rhode Island Ship Token - Vlugtende Removed

Strike Type
1779 Colonials coin

Coin Details

Year
1779
Denomination
Colonials
Strike Type
Regular Strike
Series
Post-1776 Private and Regional Issues (1778-1820)
Composition
Bronze
Weight
15g
Diameter
32mm
Edge
Plain

Description

On this variety, the Dutch word "vlugtende" (meaning "fleeing") has been deliberately removed from the obverse die, leaving a blank space below the ship where the inscription originally appeared. The Rhode Island ship medal, usually dated to about 1779 or 1780, shows a ship on one side and the withdrawal of American forces from Aquidneck Island in August 1778 on the other (search). The earliest strikes carry the Dutch word VLUGTENDE (fleeing) below the ship; it was later removed and a wreath was put in its place (search). It was long read as a satire on the British fleet, but recent writers argue it was a British medal made for the Dutch market (search). Betts numbers it in the 560s.

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