AN HISTORIC AND SELDOM OFFERED TOKEN. Hampshire 67. Portsmouth (Scarce though not so noted in D&H). Copper halfpenny. 9.07 gm. 29 mm. 1797. The Union Jack flying in a west wind; MAY IT BE DISPLAYED AT ALL POINTS OF YE COMPASS around / Ships sailing; CAPE ST. VINCENT Feby 14, 1797. Good Extremely Fine.

The Mike Sussman Collection of British Trade Tokens.

From the French Revolutionary Wars: Spain was united with France against the British in 1796. In February 1797 during a British blockade of Spain the British, under the command of Admiral Jervis, caught the French/Spanish fleet near the southwest-most point of the European continent–Cabo de Sao Vicente. With half the number of ships and assisted by a brilliant move by the young (someday to be Admiral) Nelson the British defeated the enemy fleet.