Description

George I. 1714-1727. Silver Medal 1718, 36.62 g. Naval Action of Cape Passaro. By J. Croker. Bust, laureate, armoured and draped. GEORGIVS . D : G : MAG : BR : FR : ET . HIB : REX . F : D: Rv. Statue of the King, as Neptune, upon a rostral column amidst captured naval trophies. SOCIORVM . PROTECTOR. In exergue: CLASSE . HISP : DELETA . AD . ORAS . SICILÆ. Plain edge. 45.2 mm. Eimer 481. MI ii 439/42. Brockmann 824. Vorzüglich / Extremely Fine. Feine Patina / Nicely toned. Kleine Randfehler / Small edge nicks.

From the auction Bankhaus Aufhäuser 9, Munich, October 1992, lot 769.

The Naval Action off Cape Passaro (also known as the Battle of Cape Passaro) took place on 11 August 1718 during the War of the Quadruple Alliance (1718 - 1720). It was a significant naval engagement between the British Royal Navy and the Spanish fleet. The battle occurred off the coast of Cape Passaro in south-eastern Sicily and resulted in a decisive victory for the British. The engagement underscored the decline of Spain as a major naval power and the rise of Britain as the dominant maritime force in Europe.