1739 Bronze Medal Admiral Vernon, A-C PBv 31-CC

Coin Details

Description

This 1739 bronze medal, cataloged as Adams-Chao PBv 31-CC, pairs obverse die 31 with double-letter reverse CC. The thirty-first obverse die in the PBv series pushes the production count beyond the already remarkable PBv 30 pairing. Reverse CC continues the double-letter sequence, with each successive letter representing a new reverse die cut during the final phase of production. The PBv 31-CC variety documents die-cutting ambition that exceeded any reasonable commercial justification — by this point, the Vernon medal market was contracting, but workshop momentum and sunk costs in die production kept new varieties appearing. Struck in copper alloy (AE), this medal is among the rarest varieties in the PBv subgroup. The progression from single-letter to double-letter reverses paired with obverse dies in the thirties illustrates how the Vernon medal phenomenon, once ignited by Porto Bello, developed its own self-sustaining momentum that outlasted the original market demand.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. The PBv 31-CC combination is one of the most advanced die pairings in the Vernon portrait series.

Cross References

A-C PBv 31-CC; PCGS #969169