628. Great Britain, bronze “Admiral Vernon” medal (1741), Porto Bello and Cartagena. Betts #303. 12.5 grams. The enmity between the Spanish and the British in the 18th century is the stuff of legend, marking the point in time at which the role of dominant naval power and American overlord switched from one to the other. It was a time of tremendous British pride, and in true form the various victories were commemorated with medals. The copper medals struck for Vernon, like this one, were so popular and abundant that they were literally circulated as coins and heavily worn. This particular piece (a rare type) shows Vernon personally humbling the Spanish Fleet commander at Cartagena, Admiral Don Blas de Leso, on the obverse and six ships attacking Port Bello on the reverse, with legends THE SPANISH PRIDE PULLD DOWN BY ADMIRAL VERNON and WHO TOOK PORTO BELLO WITH SIX SHIPS ONLY, with date NOV 2, 1739 in exergue (referring to the date of the Porto Bello capture). The irony of this particular issue is the fact that Don Blas did not capitulate to Vernon as pictured and in fact escaped, a cowardly act that further riled the British public and (yep, you guessed it!) led to more propaganda in the form of more medals. About Fine, a little grainy, chocolate brown color. Estimate: $150 - $225
629. Mexico, Empire of Iturbide, silver half-dollar-sized proclamation medal, 1822. 16.6 grams. Richly toned obverse with crowned eagle on cactus, reverse showing INAUGURACION DE AGUSTIN. PRIMER LIBERADOR DE MEXICO. JULIO 21 DE 1822, AVF overall, no problems. Estimate: $90 - $135
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630. Great Britain, steel restrike of a German medal commemorating the sinking of the Lusitania in 1916. 76.1 grams. We have had a number of these in our auctions, but each one has gotten more money than the last, so they must be popular. The original medals, depicting on the obverse a skeletal Cunard agent selling tickets and the sinking of the ship on the reverse, were unabashed propaganda by the Germans (who torpedoed and sank the Lusitania) to show the folly of sending hapless passengers to their death in dangerous waters during wartime; but soon afterward the British realized they could portray the Germans as heartless barbarians by striking medals with the very same design! This specimen is in perfect condition save for some small spots of rust. Estimate: $150 - $225
631. Silver 5-oz medal struck from silver recovered from the Atocha (1622) for the 1988 Florida United Numismatists annual coin convention. 2½” in diameter. By 1988 Mel Fisher’s fabulous find was in full promotional mode, and some of the hundreds of silver bars recovered were in such poor condition that it made sense to melt them down and turn them into commemorative medals like this one (the much more insidious replica coins and jewelry came later). These medals were made and marketed by the late coin dealer Brian Beardsley of Worldwide Ventures. The design consists of a picture of the ship above ATOCHA SILVER on the obverse and the State of Florida with an alligator, two dolphins and a flamingo on the reverse, the legends reading FIVE TROY OUNCES / LOST 1622 DISCOVERED 1985 and FLORIDA UNITED NUMISMATISTS / JAN 7-10, 1988. Many of these medals were subsequently melted and therefore they are somewhat scarce today. Gem Proof condition. With wooden box engraved with a ship and TREASURE OF THE ATOCHA / 1622-1985, plus Beardsley certificate #078 (limited to 1000 pieces). Estimate: $125 - $185
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