Admiral Vernon Medals (1739-1741), Betts 171-337

About This Coin

No single military event of the eighteenth century generated a larger outpouring of commemorative medals than Vice Admiral Edward Vernon's November 1739 capture of Porto Bello — and Betts numbers 171 through 337 document this extraordinary medallic phenomenon. Vernon seized the heavily fortified Spanish harbor town on the Isthmus of Panama with just six warships, a stunning victory during the War of Jenkins' Ear that made him an overnight hero in Britain and her colonies. The public celebration was immediate and commercial: private manufacturers in Birmingham and London rushed to produce medals in copper, brass, and white metal, creating hundreds of distinct die combinations depicting Vernon's portrait, views of Porto Bello harbor, the British fleet in action, and various laudatory inscriptions. The sheer volume of Vernon medal varieties — encompassing over 160 Betts numbers — reflects both the intensity of public enthusiasm and the entrepreneurial energy of eighteenth-century medal manufacturers. Later Vernon medals also commemorate his less successful 1741 siege of Cartagena, some struck optimistically before the outcome was known, creating the ironic category of premature victory medals. A notable auction result reached $840 in AU58 grade at Stack's Bowers, though the most desirable die combinations and metal types command significantly higher prices. Compositions are predominantly copper and brass, with silver and white metal examples being considerably scarcer. Collectors should be aware that the vast number of die varieties, combined with often similar designs, makes precise attribution essential — the Betts number, metal type, and specific die combination all affect both historical significance and market value. These medals serve as a remarkable case study in popular culture and propaganda through the numismatic arts.