(1758) Medal MI-691/415 Goree Taken, Silver

Coin Details

Auction Record

$2,160 MS62 08-24-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

This silver version of the MI-691/415 medal commemorates the British capture of Goree Island from France in 1758 during the Seven Years' War. The silver composition distinguishes this as the premium striking of the type, produced in smaller numbers than the bronze version for officers, dignitaries, or collectors. Goree Island, situated off the coast of modern-day Senegal, was valued by European colonial powers as a base for trade along the West African coast. The British seizure of the island on December 29, 1758, was part of Prime Minister William Pitt's comprehensive strategy to strip France of its colonial possessions around the globe. British forces accomplished the capture with relatively little resistance, as the French garrison was undermanned and outgunned by the Royal Navy squadron. Silver medals commemorating British military victories in this era are important documents of 18th-century imperial history and the global scope of what was truly a world war fought across multiple continents and oceans.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Silver strikings of 18th-century British military medals were produced in limited quantities and are significantly rarer than their bronze counterparts.

Cross References

PCGS #921148; MI-691/415; Seven Years War / French and Indian War