Slag bij Doggersbank, penning door Willem V, prins van Oranje-Nassau vereerd aan de subalterne officieren, onderofficieren en cadets, die aan de strijd hadden deelgenomen 1781

This silver medal was designed by Johann Heinrich Schepp to be awarded by Willem V, Prince of Orange-Nassau. It was given to the lower-ranking officers who participated in the Battle of Dogger Bank. The medal commemorates a naval battle fought in 1781 between the Dutch and the British during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War. The Dutch Republic was in decline, and this war was fought over trade routes and naval power. This medal, then, is an instrument of statecraft and propaganda, distributed to shore up support. The imagery on the medal is revealing. On one side is a female figure, likely representing the Dutch Republic, standing triumphant. The other side contains an inscription surrounded by a wreath. The choice of imagery reflects the cultural values and political ambitions of the Dutch Republic at the time. Understanding this medal requires research into the history of the Dutch Republic, its naval power, and the political context of the Anglo-Dutch Wars. By studying such objects, we gain insights into the social and political dynamics of the past.