LOW COUNTRIES. Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden (Dutch Republic). 1581-1795. Medal 1653 (Silver, 67 mm, 121.34 g, 12 h), on the death of Admiral Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp on 10 August 1653. By J. Pool. Amsterdam. MARTEN•HARPERTƧEN•TROMP•RIDDER• Draped half length bust of Tromp facing slightly to right, wearing collar; below his right arm truncation, •I•POOL. Rev. LIEVTENANT•ADMIRAAL•VAN•HOLLAND•VOOR•HET•VAADERLAND•GESNEVVELT•DEN•10•AVGVSTI •ANNO 1653•: Scene of the naval Battle of Scheveningen: Dutch warship firing on English warships; in the front, sinking English vessel. Eimer 187. Koldeweij 1. Scher 783. Van Loon II, p. 376. Very rare. A wonderful example, lustrous, beautifully toned and sharply struck. Tiny edge marks, otherwise, good extremely fine.



The Dutch naval hero Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp dedicated most of his life to naval service. Beloved by his crews, he earned the nickname 'Bestevaêr' ('grandfather') and is said to have won no fewer than thirty-three naval battles. On 10 August 1653, during the Battle of Scheveningen, an English sniper shot Tromp dead. Although the battle ended in a tactical defeat for the Dutch, it resulted in a strategic victory, as it forced the English to lift their blockade of the Low Countries.

Tromp's death was a heavy blow to Dutch morale. The loss of their greatest naval commander was widely mourned and commemorated with fine medals such as this one. Notably, the naval scene on the reverse was clearly based on Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraaten's painting 'The Battle of Scheveningen, 10 August 1653'.