GREAT BRITAIN. Admiral Rodney/The Glorious February 3rd Silver Medal, 1781. PCGS Genuine--Tooled, AU Details.Liechty-08 (this medal illustrated); BHM-229; MH-381; S-P/20. Diameter: 35mm. Obverse: Uniformed bust of Rodney facing right, perimeter legend to left and right G. B. RODNEY.; Reverse: Seven-line legend IN MEMORY / OF THE GLORIOUS / 3rd FEBRY.1781 . WHEN / SR. GEORGE / PUNISHD / THE DUTCH / &C: &C:. A well-struck and well-preserved example with lustrous argent surfaces augmented with highlights of gold, russet, and subtle cerulean which delight the eye and emphasize the design details. Very light wear and even the noted tooling in the right obverse field is relatively inconspicuous. This is an <strong>EXTREMELY RARE</strong> medal (R-7 [4-12 examples known] in Liechty) which was missing from the Ford and Adams collections. Recent examples seen at auction include a raw uncirculated example auctioned by Heritage in January 2022 for $1,700, an NGC MS-61 example auctioned by Heritage in November 2019 for $2,500, and the LaRiviere specimen (this medal) auctioned by Dix, Noonan, Webb in July 2011 for ₤820. The offered example is the plate medal in Liechty.<em>In response to orders from London in December 1780, in February 1781 Rodney requested surrender from the Dutch governor of St. Eustatia, who agreed on February 3rd - thus allowing Rodney to take the island peacefully. However, British troops violently plundered the island of its wealth with the islands Jewish population receiving particular attention. Rodneys critics suggest that not only did he violate the code of war regarding civilian immunity, but also that his fixation on plunder distracted him from his military duties in support of Rear Admiral Graves who ultimately was defeated by the French at the Battle of Chesapeake which in part led Cornwallis being forced to surrender at Yorktown. Rodney returned to England with the islands treasure; he would return to naval command in February of 1782.</em><strong>To view all items from the Skyler Liechty Collection, click <a href="https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots?sort=auction_date_lot_number_asc&limit=96&search=Skyler+Liechty+Collection&lots_range=upcoming"> here.</a></strong>From the Skyler Liechty Collection.Ex: LaRiviere Collection (Dix, Noonan, Webb - 7/2011) Lot #1671 @ ₤820.
