1739 Bronze Medal Admiral Vernon, A-C PBvi 16-V

Coin Details

Auction Record

$360 VF35 02-21-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1739 bronze medal, cataloged as Adams-Chao PBvi 16-V, pairs obverse die 16 with reverse die V. The sixteenth obverse die in the PBvi series represents one of the latest portrait interpretations in this subgroup. By this point in the production sequence, die sinkers were working from increasingly distant copies of Vernon's likeness, leading to portraits that diverge from earlier depictions. Reverse die V uses a letter deep in the alphabet, confirming this as a late-production reverse. Struck in copper alloy (AE), the PBvi 16-V variety belongs to the tail end of the enormous PBvi production run. The Vernon medal craze has been compared by numismatic scholars to a modern commemorative coin program, with collectors and dealers driving demand for new varieties in a self-reinforcing cycle of production and acquisition. The PBvi subgroup, with its extensive die roster, provides the best evidence for this commercial dynamic.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Very high-numbered PBvi die pairings were produced in small quantities for a narrowing market.

Cross References

A-C PBvi 16-V; PCGS #930223