Featured Admiral Vernon Medals – A fun colonial “U.S.” Medal Series

Collecting Admiral Vernon medals has had a recent surge in collecting popularity. The EAC (Early American Coppers) community has always had an interest due to them being minted and distributed during the time of other colonial coppers. The giants of our collecting community have collected them including Eric Newman and Walter Breen. Many major museums include examples in their collections. Despite that many examples can be acquired for a reasonable price.



There are many books written on Vernon and his medals but the 2010 publication by John Adams and Dr. Fernando Chao has really help spur the interest. And much like other collectible areas, the book has helped create an increase the cost of collecting them. The subtitle of the book is “Medals Sometimes Lie.” We will circle back to that later.

The book breaks down the medals into a total of 9 types which encompass over 250 varieties. All of them are R-5 to R-8 meaning none of them have a known population of over 75 pieces.

Edward Vernon was born November 12th, 1684. He was the 2nd son to James Vernon, Secretary of State to William III. He joined the Royal Navy in 1700. By 1706 he was promoted to Captain and appointed to the HMS Dolphin. In 1720 he was made Commodore. In this same time period he also became a member of Parlaiment but was re-appointed to active served in 1726.

In 1731 he took up the case of Rober Jenkins, a merchant seaman that claimed to have had his ear cut off by Spanish privateers. This event along with others led to a conflict referred to as the War of Jenkins’ Ear in 1739.

The Battle of Porto Bello was a 1739 battle between a Royal Navy squadron aiming to capture the settlement of Portobelo in Panama, and its Spanish defenders. It took place during the War of the Austrian Succession, in the early stages of the war sometimes known as the War of Jenkins' Ear. Vernon claimed that he could take Porto Bello with just six ships and the battle resulted in a popularly acclaimed British victory. This is when we first start seeing Vernon medals produced.

Type 1) Medals with no location

I did a presentation on these several years ago and stated that I hadn’t found one of these for sale although as a type they are no more scarce. Although only 13 varieties so it limits the amount of material available to collectors. A January 2026 Heritage auction changed that for me because I was able to add 2 pieces of this type.

The first pictured medal has Admiral Vernon and along with Commodore Brown. The reverse features Field Marshal John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll. This is a political piece as much a celebration of Argyll as much as Vernon and Brown.



Adams-NLv-8-F

The second medal uses the same obverse but with a different political reverse. The banner across the top of the reverse states “MAKE ROOM FOR SIR ROBERT”. Sir Robert Walpole is the longest reigning British Prime Minister in history. Apparently, there were those that didn’t care for him. The auction lot describe it “Satirical depiction of Satan leading Walpole to hell on the reverse.”


Adams-NLv-8-G



Type 2) Porto Bello Medals with No Portrait

There are only 5 varieties of these and as such tend to command strong prices.

This is one of only 3 “no portrait” reverses. It is in remarkable condition and appears to have been minted from new dies.



Adams-PB-2-C

“He took Porto Bello with Six Ships Only” is a common phrase on Vernon Medals. After the battle he returned to England with great fanfare, and as a national hero.

Type 3) Porto Bello Medals Vernon’s Portrait Alone

There are 70 varieties to collect for this type making this one of the easiest financially to acquire. The pictured medal features the popular phrase from above.




Adams-PBv-27-W

Type 4) Porto Bello Medals with Vernon’s Portrait and Icons

The “icons” are mostly cannons and ships. The pictured medal is listed as Adams PBvi-5E and is listed as Rarity-5. That means that 51-75 are known to exist. I find this hard to believe because I have accidentally acquired 3 pieces. This is the nicest of them.



Adams-PBvi-5-E

Type 5) Porto Bello Medals with Multiple Portraits

There are multiple combinations of Vernon with others for this type. The one pictured is Vernon with his second in command Commodore Brown. Other varieties include representations of Spanish Admiral de Lezo kneeling in defeat.



Adams-PBvb-9-R

Type 6) Fort Chagre Medals –

This battle came after Porto Bello but was not as an important of an event. This medal mentions Fort Chagre but still has the familiar Porto Bello slogan.





Adams-FCv-18-Y

So, why do U.S. collectors, collect Admiral Vernon medals? They are obviously British made items commemorating British battles and figures. I think the Cartagena medals do a good job of explaining that.


Type 7) Cartagena Medals

This was a major event. The British attacked with over 100 vessels and over 11,000 ground troop, including 3600 Colonial American Troops. The first deployment ever of American troops abroad.

The skill and bravery of Admiral Blas de Lezo heavily influenced the final outcome. The British had to withdrawal after suffering heavy losses. The first medal for this type states on the reverse, “TOOK CARTHAGENA 1741”. The problem is, it never happened. They were making and distributing these in advance of his assumed victory.

George Washington’s half-brother, Lawrence Washington, served during this time and was so impressed with Vernon that he later named his Virginia estate, Mount Vernon, in honor of his former commander.



Adams-Cav-2-B

The second of my Cartagena medals depicts Vernon with Admiral Ogle, the other commander at Cartagena.



Adams-Cavo-5-G
To be continued.....

 

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Type 8) Havana Medals

These seem to be among the most sought after by collectors. This is a battle that they did not lose. In fact, it never happened. After setting up camp 50 miles away, they had to suffer through guerilla tactics from the locals and yellow fever. The army suffered 2000 casualties and never attacked Havana.

The medal in my collection has Havanay on the obverse but still the familiar Porto Bello saying on the reverse. They really couldn’t let go of that.



Adams-Hav-1-B

Type 9) Uniface Pieces

Even though I have never seen one for sale although they don’t have higher rarity ratings than the others.


The book by Adams and Chao is fantastic in my opinion. It made a huge impact on how I collect these.

Closing:

There is no doubt that these are British medals, but the American connection is what originally drew me to collect these. There are hundreds of varieties. Worn examples are very affordable; many can be purchased for less than $100. This was meant to be a relatively short introduction to Admiral Vernon medals. I hope you have enjoyed this. Feel free to share your own.


Sources:

Medallic Portraits of Admiral Vernon – Medals Sometimes Lie, by John W. Adams and Dr. Fernando Chao

Wikipedia for some of the historic information.

 

Heritage had a big sale of these recently, didn't they? I remember seeing an email about it, but didn't pay much attention because I didn't know what they were.

This was a very interesting presentation! Thanks for educating me on what these medals are, and showing off your collection. Very cool.

 

They did. A couple of these came from that sale. It was the first I had seen some of the varieties offered for sale.

 

I'm going to post some detailed descriptions of some of these. Most of the descriptions come from the lot description or the Adams book.



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.

 

1741 ADMIRAL VERNON MEDAL CARTHAGENA NGC VF35 ADAMS CAv-4-E

Struck during the War for Jenkin's ear, named for the British merchant captain Robert Jenkins between 1739 and 1741. Admiral Vernon's self-predicted victory over the Spanish treasure port of Porto Bello (Panama) in 1739, and nearby Fort Chagre in early 1740, made him an instant hero and led to the striking of hundreds of different commemorative medals all over Great Britain. These events marked the first major British victories in over 30 years, and England had been growing nervous about her military prowess. Porto Bello was the grand prize, but the following, quick surrender of the Castil De San Lorenzo (Fort Chagre), at the mouth of Charges River, solidified Vernon's reputation just a few months later. Newspapers of the day began comparing Vernon to Sir Robert Blake, the most famous British Admiral of all time, as Vernon had "Revived the British Glory," as some of the medals proclaim.

These victories caused the British government to plan an even more daring assault on the "Mecca" of the Spanish Caribbean trade network, Carthagena (modern day Cartagena, Columbia). In 1741, the magnanimous Admiral Vernon found himself in joint command, along with British Army General Wentworth, of a land and naval assault on Carthagena. The man who was supposed to be in charge of the so-called Carthagena Expedition of 1741 had died on the 9 week voyage to the West Indies. The assault employed both British regulars and colonial troops that were raised in the American colonies. George Washington's half-brother, Lawrence, received a King's commission as a colonial officer in the Carthagena Expedition, and sailed on Vernon's flag ship. He distinguished himself a war hero, leading sorties against the Spanish. Even though Vernon's reputation was ultimately tarnished after the expedition failed to take the city; due to squabbles between he and Wentworth, and because about half the British and American forces died of tropical disease; medals commemorating the victory were already being struck in Britain in advance of any military action. Some show the Spanish commander, Blass De Lesso, surrendering his sword. Others, like this piece, show a portrait of Vernon. Vernon did "view the town" but it was from afar, and from a boat.

This disastrous expedition was a sore subject in the American colonies, due to the abuse of colonial troops, and it was a definite, contributing factor to the American Revolution. It lead to great difficulties raising colonial militias for Kings Georges War (1745) and the French and Indian War (1754-1763). Lawrence, on the other hand, continued to admire his commander, and upon his return to Virginia in 1742, he named his plantation Mount Vernon, in honor of the Admiral. Young George admired his older brother and longed for his own King's commission some day. The rest is history.

 

1739 Great Britain Historical Medal
Admiral Vernon & Commodore Ogle at Cartagena

Adams CAvo-3-D. 37mm, Brass. Rarity-5

Appealing even coloration and good obverse strike. The reverse was struck form an advanced die state, with warped and drawn features. A meaty and quite appealing example, which is a nice VF, despite few small rim nicks, typical of these well-loved and often, well-circulated pieces. A rare variety, with 31-74 known in all grades.

 

1739 United Kingdom. Admiral Vernon Medal. Fort Chagre. Brass. FC v 18y. 33mm. 14g. The obverse features Admiral Vernon from the waist up with right hand to side and left hand holding a command baton and Fort Chagre behind. The reverse features ships in harbor attacking the city of Portobello.

 

Adams-Hav-1-B

37.5mm
12.9g

 

Admiral Vernon Medal, British Glory-Generous Duke of Argyle, Adams-NLv-8-F, R.7 -- Environmental Damage -- NGC Details. XF. Ex: Admiral Vernon Collection. Copper alloy. 36.6 mm. Obverse: Vernon full-length portrait facing right-forward, sword in right hand, left hand clasped with Brown, full-length portrait facing left-forward; crown above, ship below. Reverse: Argyll full-length portrait facing right-forward with war implements and crown on a pedestal. Rare, and although rated R.7, Adams-Chao report only three pieces. The current piece displays sharp definition and light high-point wear with overall minor granularity and deep olive-brown patina.

 

Admiral Vernon Medal, British Crown-Make Room for Sir Robert, Adams-NLv-8-G, R.5 -- Scratches -- NGC Details. AU. Ex: Admiral Vernon Collection. Copper alloy. 37 mm. Obverse: Vernon full-length portrait facing right-forward, sword in right hand, left hand clasped with Brown, full-length portrait facing left-forward; crown above, ship below. Satirical depiction of Satan leading Walpole to hell on the reverse. This is the same obverse as NLv-8-F; the reverse is the same motif as NLv-6-E but a different die. A few old pinscratches on each side are faint and not immediately obvious without a loupe. Overall, the surfaces are smooth and chocolate-brown with strong detail and little wear on the devices.

 

Admiral Vernon Medal, Porto Bello, Adams-PB-2-C, R.5, AU58 NGC. Ex: Admiral Vernon Collection. Copper alloy. 38.8 mm. One of many familiar Porto Bello Taken reverses paired with one of three no-portrait obverses. This obverse is employed by three of the no-portrait varieties. This is a beautiful piece, showing problem-free olive-brown surfaces with barely a trace of wear.

 

Admiral Vernon Medal, Porto Bello, Adams-PBv-13-K, R.5 -- Obverse Tooled -- NGC Details. AU. Ex: Admiral Vernon Collection. Copper alloy. 39.9 mm. Most examples of this variety are in the traditional copper alloy. Adams-Chao note the only silver example seen is cast. Copper-alloy pieces like the present are struck on cast planchets. Moreover, while this variety is plentiful by Vernon medal standards, most pieces grade only VF or lower; higher-grade pieces are rare. This piece displays superb detail for the grade, with only light high point wear. Bronze-gold and olive-chestnut patina encompass each side, while the obverse fields are faintly tooled. Several horizontal planchet fissures are visible on the obverse with a loupe.

 

Admiral Vernon Medal, Porto Bello, Adams-PBv-28-X, R.6, AU55 NGC. Ex: Admiral Vernon Collection. Copper alloy, silvered. 37 mm. This variety is only known in the normal copper alloy, but large areas of silvering remain visible on this piece, especially in the fields. The piece is uniformly toned deep gunmetal-gray and shows little wear, with strong definition.