Porto Bello with Vernon’s 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, his finger and baton pointing at the legend. The legend states, “The British Glory Reviv D. by Admiral Vernon.” Reverse depicts the ships entering the harbor, with five facing to the right, and one to the left. The legend states, “Who Took Porto Bello With Six Ships Only” and in exergue surrounded by scrollwork, “Nov. 22, 1739”. The church steeples in the harbor point at the letters “e”, “w”, and “l”. This medal has water lines outside the harbor.

The obverse and reverse text read as follows: The British Glory Reviv D. By Admiral Vernon | and | He Took Porto Bello With Six Ships Only; Nov. 22. 1739.