ITEM: Voor Trouwen Dienst Medal, 24 years, Silver PERIOD: Netherlands SIZE: 27 mm diameter PROVENANCE: Ex Netherlands private collection Established by Royal Decree of February 19, 1825 for soldiers, below the rank of officer, serving in the Dutch East India Army or Netherlands. On the obverse of this medal, the letter 'W' is placed on an ermine mantle and is represented by a royal crown. On the reverse, the National Coat of Arms rests on military symbols (banners, a cannon, bullets, shotgun barrel and an axe) above which is the semi-circular inscription "in loyal service". During different periods and with different punch cutters, the military symbols vary. There are also differences in the inscription. In the periods 1825-81 and 1928-51, the circumscription was due to "loyalty n service". Royal Decree No 30 of 18 February 1904 determined that from now on the reverse of the medal would be worn as the obverse. This is to clarify the difference between medals for land and naval forces. However, this was revoked by order of the Army on 1 January 1984. The medal has a diameter of 37 millimetres and was awarded in bronze after 12 years and in silver after 24 years of service. By Royal Decree No. 67 of 13 April 1859, another gold medal was instituted, with a diameter of 27 millimetres, for 36 years of service. Since tropical years were counted twice in the KNIL, the bronze medal was received after 6 years of royal service and the silver after 12 years. However, the gold medal was not received until after 25 years of royal service. Since 1928, all medals have a diameter of 27 millimetres. By Royal Decree of 18 February 1904, three buckles were established for the medal, two for service in the Netherlands and one for service in the Dutch East Indies: a bronze buckle with the Roman numeral 18, for eighteen years of service in the Netherlands; a silver clasp with the Roman numeral 30, for thirty years of service in the Netherlands; a silver buckle with the Roman numeral 18, for nine years of royal service in the Netherlands East Indies. By Royal Decree of 25 January 1951, the 'W' was replaced by the 'J' for Juliana. However, Queen Beatrix reversed this by Royal Decree of 20 May 1983.