1739 Bronze Medal Admiral Vernon, A-C PBv 21-R

Coin Details

Auction Record

$720 AU58 02-21-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1739 bronze medal, cataloged as Adams-Chao PBv 21-R, shares obverse die 21 with the PBv 21-Q variety but pairs it with reverse die R. This second pairing for obverse 21 extends the variety count and shows that the twenty-first portrait die was commercially successful enough to warrant a second reverse pairing. The R reverse features a different Porto Bello composition than the Q reverse, providing collectors with two distinct medals sharing the same obverse portrait. The existence of multiple pairings for high-numbered dies is significant because it indicates these were not ephemeral productions but deliberately maintained die combinations. Struck in copper alloy (AE), the PBv 21-R variety is part of a die-sharing group that includes 21-Q, allowing scholars to compare reverse imagery and production quality across paired varieties. Both pieces would have been available simultaneously to buyers seeking different versions.

Rarity Notes

Rare. An alternate reverse pairing for the high-numbered PBv 21 obverse die.

Cross References

A-C PBv 21-R; PCGS #930170