1782 Silver Medal Betts-605, Holland Treaty

Coin Details

Auction Record

$2,040 MS61 04-03-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1782 silver medal (Betts-605) is another Holland Treaty commemorative, a different design from Betts-604 (PCGS #810261). The existence of multiple medal designs celebrating the same treaty reflects the enthusiasm in the Netherlands for the Dutch-American alliance. Dutch bankers, merchants, and political leaders saw the American relationship as both a commercial opportunity and a diplomatic counterweight to British power. The Treaty of Amity and Commerce opened American ports to Dutch trade and established the reciprocal rights and obligations that governed the relationship between the two republics. Colonial-era medals were produced at royal mints, private workshops, and jewelers' studios across Europe, with production quality ranging from masterfully engraved official issues to crudely cast provincial pieces. Multiple Dutch engravers produced commemorative medals to satisfy public demand for souvenirs of this diplomatic milestone.

Rarity Notes

Original 1782 silver. Holland Treaty variant. Scarce.

Cross References

Betts-605; Holland Treaty variant 1782; Dutch-American relations