Netherlands Medal 1879 Death of Prince Hendrik “the Navigator” - Bax 131 - By van der Horst EF

Netherlands. Death of Prince Hendrik “the Navigator”, 1879. Bronze medal signed J. F. van der Horst & Co.

Obverse: Nearly facing bust of Willem Frederik Hendrik, Prince of the Netherlands, in admiral’s uniform, wearing epaulettes and decorations. The firm’s signature appears below the bust.

Legend: WILLEM FREDERIK HENDRIK PRINS DER NEDERLANDEN.

Reverse: His birth at Soestdijk on 13 June 1820 and death at Walferdange on 13 January 1879 are recorded around a beaded circle enclosing four lines of Dutch verse:

DE VLOOT, HET LEGER, ’T VOLK,
DE HANDEL EN ’T VERTIER
WEENT BIJ PRINS HENDRIKS GRAF
EN KROONT HET MET LAURIER.

The verse, attributed by Zwierzina to J. P. Hazebroek, expresses mourning by the navy, army, people and commerce. A contemporary notice in De Vlaamsche School records the marketing of a medal with this same verse by G. T. Bom of Amsterdam in 1879.

Prince Hendrik, a son of King Willem II and Anna Paulowna, supported Dutch maritime enterprise and served as governor of Luxembourg from 1850 to 1879.

References: Zwierzina 478; Bax 131. Zwierzina records this type in both silver and bronze.

Weight: 46.05 g.
Diameter: 45 mm.

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