1739 Bronze Medal Admiral Vernon, A-C PBv 17-N

Coin Details

Auction Record

$720 XF40 08-24-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1739 bronze medal, cataloged as Adams-Chao PBv 17-N, pairs obverse die 17 with reverse die N in the Vernon's Portrait series. The seventeenth obverse die and N reverse represent a late-mid production variety. The PBv 17 portrait exhibits stylistic characteristics that allow attribution to a specific workshop — the rendering of Vernon's wig, the treatment of his uniform details, and the quality of the lettering are all diagnostic features that medal scholars use to group related dies. Reverse die N features one of the standard Porto Bello compositions: the harbor under bombardment, a map showing the strategic location on the Caribbean coast of Panama, or text describing Vernon's six-ship attack. Struck in copper alloy (AE), this medal belongs to the commercial mainstream of Vernon medal production, where workmanlike quality met steady demand. The sustained production through seventeen or more obverse dies testifies to a market that remained profitable for months.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. A late-mid production variety in the PBv portrait subgroup.

Cross References

A-C PBv 17-N; PCGS #922864