1741 Admiral Vernon Medal. Adams-Chao CAv 2-B. Rarity-5. Pinchbeck, 37.6 mm. AU-58 (PCGS). 84.6 grains. A medal struck for a victory that never happened, marking Great Britains non-victory in their attempted conquest of the fortified city of Cartagena. In 2006, we described this piece as "A simply superb specimen of this type, far finer than the LaRiviere piece. Exemplary glossy golden brown with hints of brassy color around devices, generally a bit more golden on reverse than obverse. Extremely sharp with all fine details well rendered. This interesting type, showing an unrealistic rendering of the harbor of Cartagena and its various defenses, was lacking entirely from the Ford Collection." While not a great rarity in the series, this is far finer than most of this type. <p><p>While all Admiral Vernon medals have some relevance to America, since they commemorate naval aspects of a brief war that included nearly contemporaneous land battles fought in modern day Georgia and Florida, the medals of the Cartagena campaign have a special relevance. That campaign included thousands of American troops representing every colony north of South Carolina, and will be forever remembered as the very first American expedition in a foreign war. Of course, the most famous veteran of the campaign was Lawrence Washington, the presidents half-brother and favorite, who named his home Mount Vernon after the commanding officer he got to know well in the waters off modern-day Colombia. PCGS# 718706. <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 ex the Glode Requa Collection; our (Stacks) sale of the Norweb Collection, November 2006, lot 2196.
