1739 Bronze Medal Admiral Vernon, A-C PBvi 11-N

Coin Details

Auction Record

$504 AU Details 02-21-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1739 bronze medal, cataloged as Adams-Chao PBvi 11-N, combines obverse die 11 with reverse die N. The PBvi 11 obverse represents an eleventh distinct portrait of Vernon with icons, while reverse N is well into the second half of the alphabet. The pairing of high-numbered dies on both sides indicates this variety appeared during the later stages of the PBvi production cycle. Reverse die N features distinctive Porto Bello imagery — different die sinkers emphasized different aspects of the battle narrative, from panoramic harbor views to close-up depictions of the fortifications under bombardment to symbolic representations with ships and cannons. Struck in copper alloy (AE), this medal is part of the most extensive subgroup in the Vernon medal series. Adams and Chao documented the PBvi varieties with particular thoroughness because their sheer number provides the richest dataset for studying the production practices, die-sharing networks, and commercial dynamics of eighteenth-century English medal making.

Rarity Notes

Scarce to rare. The PBvi 11-N combination is one of the less frequently encountered late-series pairings.

Cross References

A-C PBvi 11-N; PCGS #930214