Watch List notes:

MODERN COINS
A SPECIAL COLLECTION OF DUTCH AND DUTCH RELATED MEDALS

The Dutch Republic. Oval Plaquettepenning, or Hollow medal (Silver, 55x51mm, 59.33 g 12), on the murder of the de Witt brothers on 20 August 1672, by an unknown medalist, 1672. Jugate busts of Johan and Cornelis de Witt to right. Rev. IOAN DE WIT / Pensionaris van / Hollant Etctr / en syn Broeder / CORNELIS DE WIT / Ruart van den / Lande van Putten / Beyde Omgebraght / in s'Gravenhage / Augusti 20 A¡ 1672 (=Johah de Witt, Grand Pensionary of Holland, etc., and his brother, Cornelis de Witt, Ruwaard of Putten, were both murdered in the Hague on 20 August, 1672). Inscription on memorial tablet between two putti; above, winged hour glass; below, skull. Bright and attractive. Some minor polishing and smoothing, otherwise, extremely fine.

Ex Künker 122, 14 March 2007, 3007.
Johan de Witt was one of the greatest of all Dutch statesmen, as well as being a true Republican; this meant that he was seen as being a serious enemy of the House of Orange. His brother was an admiral and a politician. After the French invasion in 1672, (known as the rampjaar, or year of disaster) popular sentiment very much turned against the de Witts, and in a plot launched by high level Orangists, both brothers were dragged out and savagely torn to pieces by a mob.