1747 French Fleet Defeated Off Cape Finisterre / Lord Ansons Voyage Around the World Medal. By Pingo. Betts-382, Eimer-616. Silver. AU-58+ (PCGS). 43.3 mm. 375.3 grains. An exceptionally pretty example of this popular British medal, marking the contributions of one of the great naval figures of the mid-18th century. Both sides are nicely reflective and boldly lustrous, with a wealth of multicolored toning against light gray surfaces. Pale blue, faint violet, sea green, and rich gold tones dominate. Only trivial hairlines are present, and a careful examination will find a single thin hairline scratch at the tip of Ansons nose. This is something of a dual commemorative. The obverse celebrates Ansons victory at the first battle of Cape Finisterre, off the Spanish coast, in 1747. The reverse marks Ansons circumnavigation from 1740 to 1744. From Christies sale of March 1, 1966, part of lot 128; our (Stacks) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part XIV, May 2006, lot 443; our sale of the E Pluribus Unum Collection, November 2021 Baltimore Auction, lot 10007.
