(1702) Bronze Medal Betts-95, Vigo Bay

Coin Details

Auction Record

$660 MS65RB 08-24-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

Betts-95 in bronze provides the standard copper-alloy version of this Vigo Bay medal design, complementing the silver (PCGS #921151) and gilt bronze (PCGS #921150) versions under the same Betts number. The bronze composition was the most widely distributed, making the medal accessible to a broader audience of collectors and officials. The Battle of Vigo Bay remained a celebrated victory throughout the eighteenth century, and demand for these medals persisted long after the 1702 engagement. This specific Betts-95 design, struck in bronze, presents the battle's imagery at the standard commemorative level. The existence of three composition variants under the same Betts number (bronze, gilt bronze, and silver) demonstrates the tiered production system used for colonial medals: bronze for general distribution, gilt bronze for mid-level officials and wealthy collectors, and silver for the most important recipients or presentation purposes.

Rarity Notes

Bronze striking of Betts-95. More available than silver or gilt bronze versions but still scarce as a colonial-era medal.

Cross References

Betts-95; PCGS #921149