Betts-604
1782 Treaty of Commerce Between Holland and the United States Medal
Obverse Text: FAVSTISSIMO FOEDERE JVNCTÆ. | DIE VII OCTOB • MDCCLXXXII •
Reverse Text: JUSTITIAM ET NON TEMNERE DIVOS | S. P. Q. AMST. | SACRVM | I. G. HOLTZHEY FEC.
Catalog Reference
A.J.N., II, 64
V.L. Sup. 575
Engraved by the gifted Dutch engraver Holtzhey, this medal commemorates the negotiation of a commercial treaty between the Dutch and the American emissary, John Adams. The Fame depicted on the obverse has crowned conjoined shields of the Netherlands and the United States, shown with 13 stars. This treaty was the first such agreement in American history, made even before the signing of the Treaty of Paris. Adams considered it one of his greatest accomplishments. The Dutch thought it important enough to issue this magnificent medal.
The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the Sydney F. Martin Part V Collection, where it realized $4,080.
