Watch List notes:

Cuba (under Spain), gilt bronze medal, 1763, capture of Morro Castle (Havana) and deaths of Don Luis de Velasco and Vincenzo Gonzales, by T.F. Prieto. Betts-443; Eimer-704; Medina-12. 51.94 grams; 50 mm. Obverse with two busts above PRIETO inside legend LVDOVICO DE VELASCO ET VICENTIO GONZALEZ; reverse with explosion emanating from fortress within a naval battle scene below legend IN . MORR . VIT . GLOR . FUNCT ., exergue with ARTIVM ACADEMIA / CAROLO REGE CATHOL / ANNVENTE CONS. / A MDCCLXIII. This medal is typically filed under Cuba due to the location of the battle it depicts, but its manufacture was in Spain, and the commemoration is actually of a British victory, the capture of Morro Castle in Havana, on July 30, 1763, during the French and Indian War, resulting in the deaths of the Spanish officers shown on the obverse. This example rates XF or better, with bright gold plating almost completely covering the surfaces, the original dark brown peeking out only on high points.


Estimate: 350 - 500 USD