1739 Bronze Medal Admiral Vernon, A-C PBv 34-GG

Coin Details

Auction Record

$192 VF25 02-21-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1739 bronze medal, cataloged as Adams-Chao PBv 34-GG, pairs obverse die 34 with double-letter reverse GG. The thirty-fourth portrait die pushes the PBv obverse sequence to extraordinary heights, making this one of the most advanced die pairings in the entire Vernon medal catalog. Reverse GG is well into the double-letter sequence, indicating concurrent late-phase production of both obverse and reverse dies. The PBv series, with its obverse die count in the mid-thirties, far exceeds the PBvi series in total obverse production, as the portrait-only format was easier or faster to cut than the icon-enhanced PBvi designs. Struck in copper alloy (AE), the PBv 34-GG variety is extremely scarce and represents a collecting target for the most dedicated Vernon medal enthusiasts. Its existence documents a medal production phenomenon of almost industrial scale, remarkable for an era when every die was hand-cut and every medal individually struck on a hand-operated screw press.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. One of the highest PBv obverse die numbers recorded.

Cross References

A-C PBv 34-GG; PCGS #930187