1739 Bronze Medal Admiral Vernon, A-C PBvi 17-Z

Coin Details

Description

This 1739 bronze medal, cataloged as Adams-Chao PBvi 17-Z, pairs obverse die 17 with reverse die Z — the final letter of the standard alphabet used in die designation. The PBvi 17 obverse is the seventeenth distinct portrait die in the subgroup, while the Z reverse represents the end of the primary alphabetical sequence before double-letter designations begin. This pairing symbolically marks a boundary in the PBvi die numbering system. Struck in copper alloy (AE), the PBvi 17-Z variety is a transitional piece between the single-letter and double-letter reverse designations that characterize the most advanced PBvi production. The exhaustion of the single-letter alphabet for reverse dies testifies to the extraordinary number of distinct reverses produced for this subgroup alone. Vernon medal scholars use the PBvi 17-Z pairing as a benchmark for discussing the scale of the entire Vernon medal enterprise.

Rarity Notes

Rare. The Z reverse designation marks the end of single-letter reverse dies in the PBvi series.

Cross References

A-C PBvi 17-Z; PCGS #902894