"Capture of St. Eustatia" silver Medal 1781-Dated MS 62 Prooflike NGC, Betts-581, Van Loon-556. 45mm. By Holtzhey. WILH CRUL TOPARCHA BURGST PRÆF CLASS HOLL & W F Uniformed bust of Wilhelm Crul right // VI INFERIOR NON VIRTVTE Pedestal with tablet on side, depicting battle and topped by urn, Mercury standing to right, weeping, ship in distant background; in exergue PUGN OCCUB IV FEB / MDCCLXXXI. High profile and lifelike, the contours of the admiral's face and uniform appear almost three dimensional in nature with the fields given expression by an underbrush of rainbow coloration. Though the grade is held in check by the usual cabinet friction, the presentation is breathtaking. Admiral Crul was mortally wounded in his heroic yet futile attempt to stave off an attack by Admiral Rodney of Great Britain, who was attempting to prevent the Dutch from supplying the American colonies with arms. The Caribbean island, St. Eustatia in the West Indies, was Dutch-owned and served as a major supply port for the Americans and later the French during the American Revolution, as the British blockade severely impacted the ability to transport supplies across the Atlantic. The British captured the island in February 1781; however, it was taken by the French in November 1781. Ex. Dresden Collection (Heritage Auction #271947, November 2019, Lot 40117) HID09801242017 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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