(1697) Bronze Medal Betts-83, Cartagena Taken

Coin Details

Auction Record

$960 MS65BN 08-24-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

This medal, Betts-83, commemorates the capture of Cartagena (Cartagena de Indias in present-day Colombia) around 1697, near the end of King William's War. Cartagena was one of Spain's most important colonial ports, serving as a collection point for treasure from South American mines before shipment to Spain. The city was one of the most heavily fortified in the Americas, with massive walls and forts designed to resist naval attacks. Attempts to capture Cartagena were recurring features of colonial warfare, and this medal documents one such engagement during the Nine Years' War. The medallic record of colonial America provides evidence that standard historical accounts sometimes overlook, documenting diplomatic encounters, treaty negotiations, and military engagements through the perspectives of the participating European powers. The bronze medal with Paris edge mark indicates a later production from the French national mint.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Cartagena medals documenting this important colonial port are scarce.

Cross References

Betts-83