1739 Porto Bello with Vernon Portrait Alone Medal

Value of 1739 Porto Bello with Admiral Vernon’s Portrait Alone Medal

This medal celebrated the accomplishment of Admiral Edward Vernon overtaking Porto Bello, a Spanish port in Panama that oversaw the shipping of gold and silver back to Europe. Vernon overtook the harbor with only six ships, as he had boasted to Parliament. The English celebrated the victory with many similarly designed medals. The obverse of this medal features a half-length figure of Vernon, facing three-quarters to the left, baton in his left hand. The legend states, “Admiral Vernon took Porto Bello.” Reverse, displays three ships diagonally to the right and three diagonally to the left. Legends reads, “With Six Ships Only, November 22, 1739.” This reverse shows land, water, and two steeples pointing between “P” and “S” and “N” and “L” on the legend.

The obverse and reverse text read as follows: Admiral Vernon Took Porto Bello | and | With Six Ships Only Nov 22, 1739.