Ancient, British and World Coins and Banknotes

The Capture of Morro Castle, Havana, and the Deaths of Don Luis de Velasco and Vincenzo Gonzales, 1763, a copper medal by T.F. Prieto, conjoined busts right, bewigged and wearing frock coats, rev. the fort’s magazine explodes with great force, ships and boats around, soldiers on the land, IN MORRO VIT GLOR FVNCT, 49mm (Betts 443; La Riviere 5253). Some knocks and bruises, but very fine and very rare (£250-350)

Morro castle was captured from the Spanish in August 1762 by a huge British fleet of 200 vessels and 14,000 men, under the command of Lord Albermarle and Admiral Sir George Pocock. The British soldiers are seen, on 30 July, storming the fort as it explodes, sending the bodies of the defenders into the air. Illustration reduced