1739 Bronze Medal Admiral Vernon, A-C PBvi 4-D

Coin Details

Auction Record

$552 AU53 02-21-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1739 bronze medal, cataloged as Adams-Chao PBvi 4-D, pairs the fourth obverse die with reverse die D in the Vernon Portrait and Icons subgroup. By the fourth obverse die, multiple workshops were contributing to PBvi production, each cutting their own interpretation of Vernon's portrait surrounded by military icons. The diversity of die styles across the PBvi series allows scholars to identify distinct workshops and trace the geographic spread of Vernon medal production from London to provincial English cities. Reverse die D presents a fresh perspective on the Porto Bello engagement, as die sinkers sometimes varied their reverse imagery to appeal to different regional markets. Struck in copper alloy (AE), this medal is a product of England's thriving private medal industry, which operated independently of the Royal Mint and produced commemorative pieces for commercial sale without government authorization or oversight.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. PBvi 4-D is a standard mid-series die pairing.

Cross References

A-C PBvi 4-D; PCGS #930206