Vergaan van de Spaanse armada 1589

This silver medal was anonymously produced in 1589 in the Netherlands, likely in the province of Zeeland. It commemorates the defeat of the Spanish Armada the year before. The medal’s imagery creates meaning through cultural references and historical associations. The coat of arms depicts a lion submerged in water, symbolising the drowning of the Spanish fleet. The Latin inscription, 'Non Nobis, Domine, Non Nobis,' meaning 'Not to us, Lord, not to us,' references Psalm 115, reflecting the religious dimensions of the conflict and attributing the victory to divine intervention. The other side features ships being overwhelmed by the sea, a direct representation of the Armada's fate. The medal is an expression of Dutch national identity forged through resistance to Spanish rule. In the context of the Eighty Years' War, such objects played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and bolstering morale. Understanding the medal requires a look at historical documents, naval records, and religious texts from that era to fully appreciate its significance.