| Obverse Design | Legend curving above says "IN MEMORY OF ADMIRAL VERNON". There is no line enclosing the legend. 1/2 length Vernon in the center is facing right. His right hand is on his hip. To the left of Vernon's shoulder is a building with a flag, and under it in two lines is "FORT" and "CHAGRE". To the right of Vernon are the "trophies", specifically cannon balls, cannon, banner, sword, trumpet and battle ax. | ||||
| Reverse Design | Legend curving along the top says "HE TOOK PORTO BELLO WITH SIX SHIPS ONLY". There is no line enclosing the legend. Along the bottom (in exergue) is the legend "NOV 22, 1739". The center is the attack on Portobello. The ships are lined up in a pyramid shape - one ship in the top row, two ships in the next, and three in the bottom row. Four a sailing to the right and two to the left. a small vessel and boat with two men is in the harbor. A large boat with three men is below the right hand fort. There are water lines under the bottom row of boats. The town has a tower which points to the right of letter "E" in "BELLO" and a spire pointing left of the "W" in "WITH". | ||||
| Distinctions | There are two similar varieties, but this is the only one with cannon balls (at the bottom of the pile of trophies). One of the others has an "I.M." to the left of Vernon near the fort. The other does not have the legend "FORT CHAGRE" and has a "T.B" to the left of Vernon. | ||||
| Metal | Copper and brass. | Weight | Unknown. | Size and Shape | Round, 36 mm in diameter. |
| Rarity | Common. | Designer or Issuer | Not known. | Other Catalog Numbers | Betts #292, McCormick-Goodhart #201. |
| Notes |
The phrase "IN MEMORY OF" is thought to mean "IN HONOR OF", and that these medals were issued around 1740 and not after Admiral Vernon died on October 29, 1757. Fort San Lorenzo at the mouth of the Chagres River is referred to as Fort Chagre on these medals. |
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Betts Illustration of VN-3.70
From Old Panama and Castilla Del Oro by Dr. C.L.G. Anderson