Vlucht van de Amerikaanse rebellen van Rhode Island bij het naderen van de vloot van admiraal William Howe 1779

This is a medal commemorating the retreat of American rebels from Rhode Island, as the fleet of Admiral William Howe approached. Its anonymous maker created this small piece to function as a symbol of power during the tumultuous times of the American Revolution. The imagery depicts a stark power dynamic. On one side, we see the chaotic retreat of the rebels, a disorganized scramble away from the imposing ships of the British fleet. The other side proudly displays Admiral Howe's flag. The medal is small, but the symbolism is monumental; it encapsulates the anxieties and power struggles of a colony in revolt. Consider the experience of holding this object. For whom was it made? What did it mean to hold a symbol of British naval dominance in your hand, as the world shifted under the weight of revolutionary fervor? It stands as a reminder of how deeply personal and emotionally charged these historical events were.