Porto Bello - Vernon's Portrait & Icons Medals

About This Coin

Within the vast family of Admiral Vernon medals commemorating the 1739 capture of Porto Bello, the "Vernon's Portrait & Icons" subgroup features the admiral's bust portrait on the obverse paired with symbolic or allegorical devices rather than the more common harbor views on the reverse. Vice Admiral Edward Vernon's surprise assault on the Spanish fortress town with only six ships electrified the British public and generated an unprecedented wave of commercially produced commemorative medals — but while many varieties depict the Porto Bello harbor and fortifications, the Portrait & Icons type substitutes iconographic elements such as cannon, flags, anchors, crowns, or patriotic inscriptions for the topographical scene. This design approach created a visually distinct category within the Vernon medal corpus, one that emphasizes the heroic narrative around Vernon's leadership rather than the geographic specifics of the engagement. These medals were privately manufactured in England, predominantly in copper and brass, by die sinkers responding to the enormous commercial demand for Vernon memorabilia. The portrait styles vary across manufacturers — some present a carefully engraved bust in naval uniform with queue and tricorn hat, while others offer more schematic renderings — and the iconic reverse devices differ from die to die, providing numerous collectible varieties. A notable auction result reached $2,900 in XF Details grade at Stack's Bowers, reflecting the premium that well-detailed specimens with clear iconographic reverses command. Collectors should examine the portrait detail and the legibility of reverse inscriptions when evaluating grade, as many surviving specimens exhibit the porous surfaces and environmental damage common to copper medals that have survived nearly three centuries.