1779 Bronze Medal Rhode Island - "vlugtende" Below Ship Betts-561

Coin Details

Description

Bearing the Dutch inscription "vlugtende" (fleeing) below the ship on the obverse, this bronze Rhode Island Ship medal is cataloged as Betts-561 — the first number in the Betts sequence for this medal type, indicating its position as the primary cataloged variety. Cross-referenced as Whitman 8500, the Betts-561 designation marks it as the "vlugtende" variety, distinguishing it from medals where that word was subsequently removed from the die. The Dutch word describes the British ships as "fleeing" from Narragansett Bay during the 1778 Battle of Rhode Island, providing a partisan narrative that reflected the pro-American sympathies of the Dutch Republic where these medals were produced. The reverse presents a detailed map of Narragansett Bay and the Rhode Island coastline, documenting the geographic theater of one of the most significant combined Franco-American operations of the Revolutionary War. Scarce in this bronze composition, the medal weighs approximately 15 grams and measures 32 mm with a plain edge. The "vlugtende" inscription is the defining feature that separates Betts-561 from Betts-562 and Betts-563, making it the variety of primary historical interest because it preserves the original Dutch editorial commentary on the battle's outcome. This medal belongs to the Post-1776 Private and Regional Issues (1778-1820) series and serves as a key piece in collections of both American Revolutionary War medals and Dutch-American historical numismatics.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. The "vlugtende" variety.

Cross References

Betts-561; Whitman 8500