Owner Comments:
Pictured above, is a 1779 Rhode Island Ship Medal/Token (hereafter abbreviated RISM), featuring the removal of the word "Vlugtende" from beneath the flagship of British Admiral Lord Richard Howe. The piece, which has been graded MS 62 BN by PCGS, has been variously categorized as: Betts-562, Breen-1139; and W-1730.
The first appearance at auction of a RISM occurred in June of 1864. The Seavey Collection specimen sold for an astounding $40. This prompted American collectors to seek additional pieces in Europe, and, in particular, from Holland. By 1880, so many had been secured, that one could be had for as little as $1.
Some dispute which side should be considered the obverse or reverse of the medal. Interestingly, the RISMs, all of which were fashioned from a single pair of dies, display the date 1779 on one side, and 1778 on the other. The medals were composed of either a goldish appearing brass, or pewter. Some have been labeled copper, but are probably the result of variations in the 60% copper/40% zinc mixture that affected the appearance of pieces intended as brass.
The side of the RISM sporting the peripheral Dutch legend translating into: "The Admiral's Flag of Admiral Howe 1779", originally contained an engraving error: The Dutch word "Vlugtende", meaning "Fleeing" was intended to refer to the American troops on the other of the medal, but was erroneously punched beneath Howe's flagship. This mistake was caught after a limited number had been issued. Thereupon, this word was manually scraped from all but 2 known examples. Ultimately, a floral wreath was added to the die to obliterate "Vlugtende", and obviate the need for further scraping. Even with the wreath added, vestiges of the "l" and "d" can often be seen. This mint error and correction have resulted in the following 6 die varieties: 1)Vlugtende in brass (2 examples); 2)Vlugtende scraped off in brass (250-499 estimated population); 3)Vlugtende scraped off in pewter (3-4); 4)Added ornament in brass (125-249); 5)Added ornament in pewter (9-16); and 6)Approximately 8 known specimens with silver coatings.
The other side of the RISM displays Dutch verbiage meaning "The Fleeing Americans of Rhode Island August 1778". To the left are 3 British frigate warships. In the center are 4 orderly rows of stylized Continental Soldiers brandishing bayonetted muskets, superimposed on Aquidneck Island, and marching to the east, where 13 whaleboats await to evacuate them.
HISTORY - During the summer of 1778, the Americans and their French ally sought to oust the British from Aquidneck Island, the present day locale of Newport R.I.. Both British and American sympathizers saw an opportunity to fashion political propaganda intended to sway Dutch sentiment. Although Dutch loyalties clearly favored the American cause, (and in fact, Holland was first to officially recognize America as a separate country), numismatic experts differ on many particulars related to the RISMs. Michael J. Hodder for instance, postulates that these medals were struck in England heralding an English victory, and the hopelessness of the American quest for independence. More recent research by Christopher McDowell, editor of the Journal of Early American Numismatics of the ANS, espouses a different perspective, however: The RISMs are, in his view, satirical Dutch jetons minted in 1780. Although they show American forces retreating, the Americans could boast a quasi victory in that their militarily inferior troops had proven that they could deftly engage, and then escape the clutches of the British, while imposing irritating setbacks on them. The English were shown to be vulnerable, far from invincible, and unable to retain the fruits of their initial fleeting victories.