(1773) Silver Medal Betts-529, Carib War

Coin Details

Auction Record

$7,200 AU58 11-26-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

Betts-529 in silver commemorates the Carib War of 1773, one of the less well-known but significant conflicts in Caribbean colonial history. The Second Carib War (1772-1776) was fought between British colonial forces and the Black Caribs (Garifuna) on the island of St. Vincent, who resisted British attempts to confiscate their land for sugar plantations. The indigenous and Afro-indigenous population of St. Vincent had maintained their independence even as surrounding islands fell under European control, and their resistance to British expansion led to a military campaign that ended in their defeat and eventual deportation. This silver medal documents one of the last organized indigenous military resistance movements in the Caribbean, a conflict that is little remembered today but was significant enough to warrant a commemorative medal. Silver strikings indicate this was produced for officers or officials involved in the campaign.

Rarity Notes

Silver Carib War medal. Unusual and historically significant Caribbean subject. Rare.

Cross References

Betts-529; PCGS #615294