A c.1659 medal marking the destruction of one of Prince Rupert’s ships – £8000 at Dix Noonan Webb.
This medal documents a little-known moment in the history of the English Civil War. In 1648, following a revolt in the Parliamentary fleet, a number of ships went to Helvoetsluys in the western Netherlands and were organised as a Royalist squadron by Prince Rupert of the Rhine (1619-82).
Subsequently, Rupert took most of the fleet to Ireland, although he left behind two vessels including the 450-ton Antelope.