(1747) Copper Medal Betts-382, Lord Anson's Voyage

Coin Details

Auction Record

$764 MS64BN 03-29-2017 Stack's Bowers

Description

This copper medal, Betts-382, is the copper version of the Lord Anson's Voyage medal. The copper composition made this version accessible to a broader audience than the gold or silver strikings. Anson's voyage captivated the British public: his small squadron sailed around Cape Horn, raided Spanish settlements on the Pacific coast of South America, crossed the Pacific to China, and captured the Manila galleon laden with treasure before returning to England in triumph. Colonial-era medals were produced at royal mints, private workshops, and jewelers' studios across Europe, with production quality ranging from masterfully engraved official issues to crudely cast provincial pieces. The voyage's combination of extreme hardship, exotic locales, and fabulous wealth made it irresistible material for medallic commemoration, and multiple versions were produced to satisfy public demand.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Copper version of the Anson circumnavigation medal.

Cross References

Betts-382 (copper)