Commemorative Medals, Numismatic Books

George II (1727-1760), Loss of Minorca, 1756, a pinchbeck medal, unsigned, half-length figure of General Blakeney, holding British flag and baton which points to ship at right, fort firing cannon at left, brave blakney reward above, but to b give a cord in exergue, rev. half-length figure of Admiral Byng three-quarters left, receiving a purse, ship behind, minorca sold above, for french gold in exergue, 34mm (MI II, 680/395 variety; Danson, SNC 1980, pp.260-1, this piece). was and by b stamped in reverse field, about very fine and extremely rare, very few specimens known from the dies in this early state £120-150

Provenance: E.W. Danson Collection.

Sold with a photocopy of the article by Ernest Danson on this medal (SNC July-August 1980, pp.260-1). It would appear that the first medals commemorating the loss, with the reverse legend minorca sold for french gold, were soon followed by those from which the reverse die was softened and the legend altered to minorca sold by b for french gold; these characteristically have a flaw in the exergue