1702 American Treasure Captured at Vigo Bay Medal. Betts-94. Silver, 47.0 mm. AU-53 (PCGS). 605.4 grains. Attractive pale silver gray with a gathering of golden toning on the intricate reverse. A couple of truly trivial rim nicks are seen, along with minor hairlines, but the visual appeal is very good. The magnificent designs are sharp and well showcased, making this an ideal representative example of this most impressive of the Vigo Bay medals.<p><p><p>When this piece was last offered in our November 2011 sale, we described it as follows: "Rich reflective luster remains in the peripheries and small fields, light golden toning enlivens brilliant silver gray surfaces. A remarkably detailed and busy medal, the most artistically advanced of the Vigo Bay series. Very attractive and well preserved, only the most minor hairlines, small rim bruise at 9:00 on the reverse, a few scattered and very tiny ticks on the rim here and there. The all-encompassing Ford collection of Betts medals, built over several generations by F.C.C. Boyd and Ford himself, contained just one specimen of this medal. That piece sold for $17,250 in 2006 and resold in our September 2009 Americana sale for $17,825. This one shows very similar eye appeal and should see active bidding by Betts medal enthusiasts."<p><p><p>The medals related to the action at Vigo Bay are enduringly popular, not only among Betts enthusiasts but among collectors of English coinage who pursue the VIGO relic coins dated 1702 and 1703. Thousands of pounds of silver (and a much smaller amount of gold) was captured in October 1702 at Vigo Bay, Spain, where the Spanish treasure fleet was trapped and destroyed, along with their French escorts, by attacking British naval forces. While most of the silver that left the New World in June 1702 was already securely on shore, the captured bullion was enough to strike a lot of specially marked silver coins and some number of official medals. Among the Vigo medals, Betts-94 is perhaps the most desirable, both as a classic rarity in the series and an artistic standout. PCGS# 613806. <strong>To view supplemental information and all items from the Sydney F. Martin Collection, click<a href="https://stacksbowers.com/sydney-f-martin-collection/"target=’_blank’> here.</a></strong> From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from our (Stack’s) Americana sale, January 2011, lot 6139.
