Catalog Reference

V.L. Sup. 548

This medal commemorates the League of Armed Neutrality from the perspective of the Dutch, who signed the treaty in December 1780 and were promptly the object of a declaration of war from Great Britain. This medal was probably struck before December of that year, when the Dutch were wavering on joining the league after their initial invitation from Russia in February. The obverse depicts an armed union between Russia, Denmark, Sweden -- all three of which nations were already signatories -- and the Netherlands with the Dutch legend GEWAP ENDE NE UTRALI TEIT or "armed neutrality." The reverse shows the all-seeing eye of Providence with an eight line legend which translates "Jehovah, the avenger of treaties, confirms Catherine's treaty of assistance, so that the commerce of the neutral powers remains intact for the benefit of all people." This pro-Armed Neutrality propaganda was meant to ensure the future of the profitable trade that the Dutch had with the Americans, but this trade and common pro-American sentiment led Great Britain to question their status as a "neutral" party.

In September 1780, the British received the proof they sought to make their suspicions concrete when Henry Laurens was captured by the British with documents suggesting an upcoming alliance between the Americans and Dutch, and before long the Dutch were considered combatants by the British despite their membership in the League of Armed Neutrality. This medal is an artifact of that precarious period of several months before the Dutch, for better or worse, became the second nation to recognize the United States after the able diplomacy of John Adams.