(1702) Silver Medal Betts-94, Vigo Bay

Coin Details

Auction Record

$14,400 AU53 08-24-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

This silver medal, Betts-83, is a silver variant documenting events at Cartagena around 1697. The silver composition distinguishes this from the bronze Paris Mint edition, indicating a higher-quality striking for a more prestigious audience. Cartagena de Indias was attacked multiple times during the colonial era due to its strategic importance as a treasure port. The city's fortifications, among the most impressive in the Americas, were continuously improved throughout the colonial period. Collectors have pursued Betts medals since the nineteenth century, when numismatists first recognized these pieces as a coherent body of historical documentation worthy of systematic study and cataloging. Silver medals commemorating military operations at Cartagena are significant for both colonial military history and the numismatic record of European power struggles in the Caribbean.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. Silver medals related to Cartagena are highly desirable.

Cross References

Betts-83 (silver)