Medal Commemorating the Capture of Fort Chagres

Chagres, located in the province of Colón on the Caribbean coast of Panama, was one of Spain's possessions in the Caribbean. Its port formed part of the trade routes for goods and people to Panama and Peru. The War of Jenkins' Ear pitted Great Britain against the Spanish Empire between 1739 and 1748 over territories in the Caribbean, and it was in this context that English Admiral Edward Vernon captured Chagres in 1740.

This coin is part of a series produced to commemorate the victory over this stronghold. On the obverse, there is a full-length image of Admiral Vernon along with a ship and a view of Fort Chagres with a raised flag, above which is an inscription that reads: "A VIEW OF FORT CHAGRE.'' The image is encircled by an inscription in English "THE . BRITISH . GLORY . REVIV . D . BY . ADMIRAL . VERNON.'' The image has a continuous decorative line around it.

On the back is a view of Portobello as the English fleet reaches the bay. It is encircled by the inscription "HE . TOOK . PORTO . BELLO . WITH . SIX . SHIPS . ONLY.'' On the exergue is the date of capture: ''NOV. 22 . 1739.'' The image has a continuous decorative line around it.

The image of the victory at Portobello was reproduced on the back of many of these medals.