Medal Commemorating the Attempted Capture of Cartagena de Indias

British medal struck to commemorate the anticipated victory over Cartagena de Indias by Admiral Vernon. The medal erroneously anticipated the surrender of Blas de Lezo while defending Cartagena de Indias, when in fact it was one of the worst defeats suffered by the English Navy.

On the obverse is the British Admiral with a staff of office, while Blas de Lezo kneels before him and hands him a sword. Above their heads is the inscription ''DON/BLASS'' and also ''THE . SPANISH . PRIDE . PULLD . DOWN . BY . ADMIRAL . VERNON.''
On the exergue is a shell with 2 acanthus leaves.

The back of the medal shows the city of Portobello and its fortifications, with 6 vessels entering the bay and a ship anchored in the port. The inscription says ''WHO. TOOK . PORTO . BELLO. WITH . SIX . SHIPS . ONLY.'' The same engravings were used in 1741 as for an earlier series of medals dedicated to the capture of Portobello, which is why that city is depicted rather than Cartagena.