Porto Bello - Multiple Portraits Vernon Medals

About This Coin

Celebrating Vice Admiral Edward Vernon's dramatic 1739 capture of the Spanish fortress at Porto Bello (modern Portobelo, Panama) with just six warships, the Multiple Portraits Vernon Medals represent a distinctive subgroup within the broader Admiral Vernon medal series. Where most Vernon medals feature the admiral's portrait alone on the obverse, the multiple portrait varieties depict Vernon alongside other notable figures — frequently Captain Edward Lawrence, who served under Vernon, or occasionally grouped with additional officers and political figures associated with the War of Jenkins' Ear. These medals were privately struck in England, primarily in copper and brass, to capitalize on the enormous public enthusiasm generated by Vernon's victory — a rare British naval triumph during a period of military frustration that temporarily made Vernon the most popular figure in the British Empire. The reverse designs typically show a view of Porto Bello harbor with ships at anchor, sometimes accompanied by cannon or fortification details, with inscriptions referencing the date and circumstances of the capture. The multiple portrait format makes these varieties particularly interesting to collectors because the additional figures expand the historical narrative beyond Vernon alone, documenting the broader cast of characters involved in the engagement. Many die combinations exist, as numerous die sinkers produced these medals independently and in haste to meet public demand, resulting in variations in portrait arrangement, legend spelling, and reverse detail. A notable auction result reached $720 in AU55 grade at Stack's Bowers. Grading these medals requires attention to the sharpness of multiple portrait elements and the legibility of often-crowded inscriptions.