Commemorative, Historical and Art Medals

Medals of the Early Colonial Period and the European Heritage, Geoktrooieerde Westindische Compagnie [Dutch West India Co], 1683, a silver medal, unsigned, monogram of the trading Company in Groningen and Ommelande, with shields of arms of the 12 directors around, rev. view of St. George del Mina and fort, below a port-side ship portrait, 44mm, 38.81g (van Loon III, 284; Betts 64). Bright from prior cleaning and a tiny rim knock on reverse at 9 o’clock, otherwise good very fine, rare £2,000-2,500

Provenance: Swiss Bank Corporation Auktion 12 (Basle), 26-7 January 1983, lot 1101.

The medal is believed to have been struck by the Governor General of del Mina (present day Elmina in Ghana) to be given to the company’s directors. St. George del Mina was built as São Jorge da Mina by the Portuguese in 1482 to trade in gold. It then became a major centre for the slave trade and was captured by the Dutch in 1637, who continued with the trade in slaves. Although attacked by the British in 1782, it remained Dutch until 1872 when the Dutch Gold Coast was sold to the British