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France: Vice-Admiral Pierre André de Suffren

France: Vice-Admiral Pierre André de SuffrenFrance: Vice-Admiral Pierre André de Suffren
France: Vice-Admiral Pierre André de SuffrenFrance: Vice-Admiral Pierre André de Suffren
Form: Circular
By: Augustin Dupré
Date: 1784
Ref:  AM2: 4; Laidlaw: 0416;
Variations:
SizeMetalMassValue
48 mmSilver$1,400
50.3 mmYellow Bronze67.1 gm$75 (restrike)

Edge: Plain. This bronze medal stamped: "(conucopia) BRONZE".

Obverse: Bust of Admiral Suffren in tie-back wig, left. Signed: “DUPRE.F.” below truncation. Legend: “P.AND.DE SUFFREN ST.TROPEZ CHEV DES ORD.DU ROI GR.CROIX DE L'ORD. DE ST.JEAN DE JERUS.VICE ADMIRAL DE FRANCE (Pierre André de Suffren of St Tropez, Knight of the order of the King, Grand Cross of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, Vice-Admiral of France)". Stop between beginning and end of legend.

Reverse: Within a laurel wreath tied at the bottom, small coat of arms at the top, across: "LE CAP PROTÉGÉ / TRINQUEMALE PRIS / GOUDELOUR DÉLIVRÉ / L'INDE DÉFENDUE / SIX COMBATS GLORIEUX / LES ÉTATS DE PROVENCE / ONT DÉCÉRNÉ / CETTE MÉDAILLE / MDCCLXXXIV (The Cape protected, Trincomalee taken, Goudelour set free, India defended. Six glorious battles. The States of Provence have issued this medal 1784)”.

Notes: The bronze medal illustrated is a 19th century restrike.

Admiral Comte Pierre André de Suffren de Saint Tropez (1729- 1788), was a French naval offices best known for his campaign in the Indian Ocean in which France and Britain contended for supremacy.

In 1780, during the American War of Independence, the Dutch allied themselves with France and entered into the war against Britain. Dutch possessions became legitimate British targets and the naval commander, George Johnstone, was ordered to lead an expedition to capture the Dutch settlement at the Cape of Good Hope. De Suffren learned of this and surprised the British fleet at anchor in Porto Praya, Cape Verde Islands, on 16 April 1781. The battle was indecisive but de Suffren was able to gain the advantage and his ships reached the Cape on 21 June. Thus reinforced the Cape was defended against Johnstone when his ships arrived in July.