Medal to commemorate Michiel de Ruyter

Christoffel Adolphi, 1676

This commemorative medal was designed to mark the funeral of Admiral de Ruyter on 18 March 1677. The obverse bears a portrait of the admiral, the reverse an image of a naval battle. Joachim Oudaen wrote a poem to commemorate De Ruyter’s death, which ends with the line ‘He colours his laurels with his blood’. De Ruyter was thus a true hero. Both examples of the medal come from the De Ruyter family.

  • Artwork typehistory medal
  • Object numberNG-NM-9661
  • Dimensionsthickness 0.6 cm x diameter 7.1 cm x weight 102.74 gr
  • Physical characteristicszilver, geslagen