102842 | UNITED STATES. Admiral Edward Vernon silvered bronze Medal.

102842  |  UNITED STATES, GREAT BRITAIN, COLOMBIA & SPAIN. Admiral Edward Vernon silvered bronze Medal. Issued 1741. Commemorating the intended capture of Cartagena de Indias in Colombia. (38mm, 16.07 g, 6h).

 

ADMIRAL VERNON THE PRESERVER OF HIS COUNTRY, Vernon standing slightly left, holding staff; ship and façade of fort to left and right // TOOK CARTHAGENA, aerial view of Cartagena from the west, with a stylized representation of the Entrada de Santiago (IAGO) and the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas (S PHILIPS) [on the peninsular mainland] and the Fuerte de San Fernando de Bocachica (BOCACHICA) [on Tierra Bomba Island], all as one land mass, and with the narrow entrance guarded by Fuerte de San José (S IOS); five ships near the entrance, and one within the cove. Edge: Plain.

 

Betts 332; Adams-Chao CAv 2-B (R-5); MI 548/156. PCGS EF Details—Repaired. Pleasing silvering, though not original, with some solid brilliance remaining in the fields and the noted repair, in the form of some smoothing and tooling, not distracting. Great overall detailing for a series not known for it.

 

Following his exploits in Porto Bello (now styled Portobelo in the Colón Province of Panama) in 1739, British Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon set his sights upon the fortifications at Cartagena de Indias in what is now Colombia. With quick successes upon his approach and as the British forces drew nearer, Vernon sent back word that victory was undoubtedly assured. In so doing, medals celebratory of the impending success were made, such as the present piece. However, there would be no such victory, as Admiral Blas de Lezo y Olavarrieta knew that his only route to repelling the British advancements was to delay and hope for the tropical climate, not something with which the British would be as accustomed, would grind his enemy into submission. In this plan, he was correct, with the British suffering staggering losses and with Vernon returning to Great Britain without his assured success in the campaign. This decisive naval engagement was a part of the War of Jenkins' Ear, itself a subset of the War of the Austrian Succession (the genesis of another conflict—the French and Indian War in the North American theater).

 

Upload: 1 December 2025.