1739 Bronze Medal Admiral Vernon, A-C PBv 11-l

Coin Details

Auction Record

$840 XF45 08-24-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1739 bronze medal, cataloged as Adams-Chao PBv 11-l, belongs to the Porto Bello Vernon's Portrait subgroup where the obverse features a bust or half-length figure of Vernon without the accompanying icons found in the PBvi series. The PBv format presents a cleaner, more focused portrait that emphasizes Vernon's personal likeness rather than surrounding him with symbolic devices. Die pairing 11-l combines the eleventh obverse die with a lowercase-letter reverse die, following the Adams-Chao convention that distinguishes PBv reverses from PBvi reverses. The PBv series' simpler obverse design may reflect a different artistic preference among some die sinkers or appeal to buyers who preferred portraiture over symbolism. Struck in copper alloy (AE), this medal was part of the enormous production of Vernon portrait medals. The PBv and PBvi subgroups together constitute the majority of all Vernon medals, with the portrait-only PBv varieties offering a more intimate view of the Admiral who captured the British public imagination.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. The PBv 11-l die pairing is a mid-range variety in the portrait subgroup.

Cross References

A-C PBv 11-l; PCGS #922854