1781 Death of Admiral Crul Medal. Betts-581. Silver, 54.4 mm. MS-62 (PCGS).From our sale of November 2016, where it was described as: <p><p>"Profoundly reflective on both sides, showing brilliant centers that yield to golden peripheral toning and colorful shades of blue and violet at the base of the reverse. Some trivial hairlines are seen, along with minor scattered marks, but none are notable. Crul became a martyr to the Dutch and the American cause after his death on February 4, 1781, in the aftermath of the British attack on St. Eustatia. The Dutch island was the principal West Indies entrepot for goods smuggled from the Netherlands for the American war effort.<p>"Offered with a page trimmed from a copy of <em>De Zeertriump der Bataafsche Vryheld op Doggersbank</em>, a 1782 Dutch book about the battle of Doggersbank that depicts several medals as illustrations. This engraved illustration depicts both sides of the medal with a rhyming quatrain in Dutch below it. Measuring roughly 4.5 x 7 inches, it is printed on laid paper, remains in near perfect condition, and is suitable for framing."<p>The medal and the contemporary print are both lovely and scarce; together, they make a fascinating and highly collectible pairing.<p><p>.PCGS# 615220.<strong>To view supplemental information and all items from the Sydney F. Martin Collection, click<a href="https://stacksbowers.com/sydney-f-martin-collection/"target=’_blank’> here.</a></strong>.From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Charles Kirtley, June 2000; John Sallay Collection; our sale of November 2016, lot 58.
