On Oct. 1702, the combined English and Dutch fleets,
under Sir George Eooke, with a large land force commanded by
the Duke of Ormonde, attacked and captured or destroyed in
Yigo harbour the whole of the Spanish plate fleet, and its
escort the French squadron of twenty-three ships under Cha-
teau-Renaud. In the attack the wind was so far favourable that
it gave greater impetus to the Torbay, under Admiral Hobson,
when she ran against the boom across the mouth of the harbour
and broke it, giving thereby admission to the confederate fleets.
The names and the numbers of the vessels of the enemy, as
given on the obverse, were probably taken from the official
report published in the London Gazette of October, 1702. The
legends are adapted from Claudian (De I I I . Cons. Honor.
97, 98), and the date given on this medal (22 Oct. N. S.) is
not the actual one of the engagement, but the day before, when
the fleets were drawn up outside the harbour. No German
forces were employed in the attack, but the Emperor formed one
of the Confederacy, and a Nereid therefore displays his shield.
18. E x p e d i t io n t o Y ig o B a y . I f - October, 1702.
Bust of Anne, I., crowned, lovelock on the left shoulder, in
gown fastened with brooch in front. Leg. a n n a . d e i . g r a :
MAG : BR : FRA : ET . HIB : REGINA.
Rev. View of Yigo harbour with vessels burning inside;
large ships lying before the narrow mouth of the harbour, near
a fort. Leg. c a p t a . e t . in c e n s a . g a l : e t . h i s p : c l a s s e .
(The French and Spanish fleets taken and burnt.) E x . a d .
VIGUM . x n . OCT . m d c c ii. (At Vigo, 12 Oct. 1702.)
1-45. Rapin, ii. 6. Yan Loon, IV. 363. Thes. Num.
218.
MB. 2R. (three varieties), M . Not uncommon.
Executed by John Croker. Three pairs of dies were used
for striking this medal, all slightly varying, and one reading
f r . instead of f r a . This is the English memorial of that
important battle; the date is therefore given after the old style.
Plate and merchandise to the value of 14,000,000 “ pieces of
eight ” or dollars were destroyed, and about half that amount
secured to the captors. Gold and silver coins, struck from
bullion taken in this engagement, bear under the bust of the
Queen the inscription v ig o .
19. E x p e d i t io n t o V ig o B a y . f f October, 1702.
Bust of Anne, I., crowned, lovelock on the left shoulder, in
gown fastened with brooch in front. Leg. a n n a . d . g . m .
BRIT . FRAN . ET . HIB . REGINA.
Rev. View of Yigo harbour, &c.; similar to the preceding.
Leg. CAPTA . ET . INCENSA . GAL . ET . HISP . CLAS. Ex. AD .
VIGUM . XII . OCT MDCCII.
1-55.
MB. iEt. Very rare.
This medal is supposed to have been executed by Christian
Wermuth after the preceding one by Croker; it is in higher
relief and of coarser work, the device being the same.
20. E x p e d i t io n t o Y ig o B a y . YJ October, 1702.
Bust of Anne, I., hair bound with fillet, lovelock on the right
shoulder, in gown fastened with brooch in front. Leg. a n n a .
D G . MAG . BR . FR . ET . HIB . REGINA. Below, I. BOSKAM . F.
Rev. A fleet attacking forts and ships in Vigo harbour.
Leg. g a l l : h i s p . q . c l a s s . e x p u g . comb . c a p t . (The French
and Spanish fleets defeated, burnt, and taken.) Ex. b r i t .
b a t a v . q . e x p e o (sic) . a d . v ig o s . m d c c ii. (The British and
Dutch expedition to Yigo, 1702.)
1-7. Rapin, ii. 4. Van Loon, IV. 363. Thes. Num.
218.
MB. Æ. Not rare.
Executed in Holland; the portrait of the Queen is copied
from the coronation medal by John Croker (See No. 4). The two
previous medals represent the position of the belligerents before
and at the beginning of the battle, this one during the full heat
of the engagement.