1782 Silver Medal Betts-606, Dutch-American Treaty

Coin Details

Auction Record

$8,400 AU58 04-03-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1782 silver medal (Betts-606) is titled "Dutch-American Treaty," another variant commemorating the establishment of formal diplomatic and commercial relations between the Netherlands and the United States. The Betts catalog entries from 602 through 607 document the extensive medallic coverage of the Dutch-American diplomatic breakthrough of 1782, one of the most thoroughly commemorated events in the Betts series. The Dutch were second only to the French in their support for American independence, and their financial contributions — particularly the loans arranged through the banking houses of Amsterdam — were essential to American survival. The iconographic vocabulary of colonial medals drew heavily on classical mythology and allegory, with figures representing continents, rivers, virtues, and vices arranged in compositions that conveyed complex political messages. This medal variant provides yet another artistic interpretation of the diplomatic achievement.

Rarity Notes

Original 1782 silver. Dutch-American Treaty variant. Scarce.

Cross References

Betts-606; Dutch-American Treaty 1782; Netherlands recognition