Battle of Lowestoft Medallion (1665)

On Tuesday 23 April, 2024, a silver medallion commemorating the naval victory of the English fleet over that of the United Provinces of the Netherlands during the Second Dutch War (1665-67) was offered for sale at an auction staged by Charles Millar of Fulham, specialists in maritime and scientific models, instruments and fine art. It fetched the sum of £550, plus seller’s and buyer’s commission.

The battle took place on 3 June 1665, forty miles due east of Lowestoft, and was perhaps the most crushing defeat inflicted on the Dutch during the three maritime conflicts between the three nations (1652-54, 1665-67 & 1672-74). Two of Lowestoft’s leading historical maritime figures featured in the action, the brothers-in-law Thomas Allin and Richard Utber - with the former in command of the Plymouth (56 guns) in the centre of the Red Squadron and the latter having charge of the Essex (52 guns) at the front of the Blue Squadron. Allin was knighted for his part in the action and promoted to Admiral, while Utber was raised to Vice Admiral.

The medallion shows the head-and-shoulders profile of Charles II on the obverse, with this wording around the perimeter: CAROLUS SECUNDUS D G MAG BRI FRAN ET HIB REX (“Charles the Second by Grace of God - D G being an abbreviation of Dei Gratia - of Great Britain, France and Ireland King”). The monarch is shown wearing the laurel wreath of victory. On the reverse, he is seen standing, full figure, to the right of the action at sea, holding a marshal’s baton of rank and authority in his right hand and dressed in Ancient Greek military attire - while a sinking Dutch ship is seen opposite going below the waves. The garb chosen for him is meant to convey heroic appearance and the Latin words PRO TALIBUS AUSIS may be roughly translated as “For such exploits/events as these” - referring, of course, to such a great victory being worthy of having a medal struck.

The name of the auctioneering company is clearly seen imposed on both sides of the medallion’s image, but this in no way impairs its appearance, nor its significance as part of Lowestoft’s history.

CREDIT:David Butcher