1739 Bronze Medal Admiral Vernon, A-C PBvb 7-L Commodore Brown

Coin Details

Auction Record

$336 XF40 11-18-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1739 bronze medal, cataloged as Adams-Chao PBvb 7-L, pairs obverse die 7 with reverse die L in the Vernon and Brown series. The seventh obverse die shows the sustained effort die sinkers invested in producing distinct versions of the dual-portrait design. Reverse die L may feature a view of Porto Bello's harbor with its fortifications — the Iron Castle (San Felipe de Todo Fierro), Santiago fortress, and San Geronimo battery — which were the three defensive positions Vernon's six ships bombarded into submission. The Spanish garrison surrendered after just two days of bombardment in November 1739, yielding a strategic port that controlled one terminus of the overland route between the Atlantic and Pacific. Struck in copper alloy (AE), this medal demonstrates how Vernon's achievement captured the British public imagination. The PBvb 7-L combination is among the most collected varieties in the Vernon and Brown subgroup, appearing periodically in colonial medal auctions.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. This die pairing appears more regularly at auction than some other PBvb combinations.

Cross References

A-C PBvb 7-L; PCGS #715428