The Period of Discovery The Period of Discovery

The Period of Discovery

In contemporary times, the existence of the American continent had little to no impact of the daily lives of Europeans, specifically in Spain, France, and England. We note the early Period of Discovery medals will feature rulers more often than founders, as the significance of the discovery of the New World did not yet bear any significance. Some may find it interesting that explorers such as Columbus, Cortez, and Pizarro are not commemorated on these medals, even though they were produced nearly a century after their conquests. Rather, names of insignificant individuals graced the fields of these medals. Although, that is not to say that characters such as Philip II were insignificant.

Included here is a footnote from the book American Colonial History Illustrated by Contemporary Medals (1894) by Charles Wyllys Betts and William Theophilus Rogers Marvin that offers some context to the dating of this series of medals: "The earliest numismatic reference to America is probably on the coins of Charles V, struck in Flanders in 1519, when he changed the motto NON PLUS ULTRA to PLUS ULTRA, and on his coins struck in 1555 with title REX INDIARVM. Charles abdicated October 25, 1555, retaining only the imperial titles used by the rulers of the "Holy Roman Empire." Philip then succeeded as King in the Netherlands, and in Spain, February 5, 1556, which approximately fixes the date of these pieces. Van Loon places them under 1555 — the year 1555 Old Style, ending in March 1556."

The Period of Discovery Betts Medals include Betts-1 to Betts-33.

Betts-1Undated (1556) Philip II, King of the New World, Treaty of Vaucelles Medal
Betts-1
Undated (1556) Philip II, King of the New World, Treaty of Vaucelles Medal
Obverse Text:

PHILIPPVS • HISPANIAR • ET • NOVI ORBIS OCCIDVI • REX

Reverse Text:

IMP • CAES • CAROLVS • V • AVG •

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Betts-2Undated (1556) Proclamation of Philip II Medal
Betts-2
Undated (1556) Proclamation of Philip II Medal
Estimated Survivors: Concept only, never produced
Obverse Text:

PHILIP • ET • MARIA • D • G • R • ANG • FR • NEA • PER…

Reverse Text:

PHILIPPVS • HISPAN • REX •

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Betts-31559 Philip II, King of the New World, Peace of Cambrai Medal
Betts-3
1559 Philip II, King of the New World, Peace of Cambrai Medal
Obverse Text:

PHILIPPVS HISPANIAR ET NOVI ORBIS OCCIDVI REX | J • PAVL • POG • F…

Reverse Text:

PACE • TERRA • MARIQ • COMPOSITA | MDLIX

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Betts-5Undated (1560) Philip II, King of the New World, and Queen Isabella Vales Medal
Betts-5
Undated (1560) Philip II, King of the New World, and Queen Isabella Vales Medal
Obverse Text:

PHILIPPVS • II • HISPAN • ET • NOVI ORBIS OCCIDVI • REX •

Reverse Text:

ISABELLA • VALES • PHILIPPI • II • HISP • REGIS • VX • | J…

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Betts-8Undated (1570) Marriage of Philip II & Anna of Austria Medal
Betts-8
Undated (1570) Marriage of Philip II & Anna of Austria Medal
Obverse Text:

PHILIPPVS • II • HISPAN • ET • NOVI • ORBIS • OCCIDVI • REX

Reverse Text:

ANNA • AVSTRIACA • PHILYPPI • CATHOL :

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Betts-91580 Sir Francis Drake's Voyage Medal
Betts-9
1580 Sir Francis Drake's Voyage Medal
Obverse Text:

D. F. DRA. EXITUS ANNO 1557 . ID . DECE | REDITUS ANNO 1580 . 4. CAL . OCT…

Reverse Text:

REDITUS | BONA SPES

What to Look For: Image courtesy of © The Trustees of the British Museum
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Betts-101581 Portuguese Possessions in America Transferred to Spain Medal
Betts-10
1581 Portuguese Possessions in America Transferred to Spain Medal
Obverse Text:

PHILLIP • II • HISP • ET • NOVI • ORBIS • REX •

Reverse Text:

NON • SVFFICIT • ORBIS

What to Look For: Image courtesy of © The Trustees of the British Museum
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Betts-12Undated (1581) Philip II Colonial Trade Medal
Betts-12
Undated (1581) Philip II Colonial Trade Medal
Obverse Text:

PHILIPPVS • II • HISPAN • ET • NOVI • ORBIS • OCCIDVI • REX…

Reverse Text:

RELIQVVM DATVRA | INDIA

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Betts-131560 King Philip Reliqvvm Datura Medal
Betts-13
1560 King Philip Reliqvvm Datura Medal
Obverse Text:

PHILIPPVS • II • HISPAN • ET • NOVI • ORBIS • OCCIDVI • REX |…

Reverse Text:

HISPANIA • VTRIVSQ • ORBIS REGNATRIX •

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Betts-141581 India Gives the Remainder Medal
Betts-14
1581 India Gives the Remainder Medal
Obverse Text:

PHILIPPVS • II • HISPAN • ET • NOVI • ORBIS • OCCIDVI • REX…

Reverse Text:

HISPANIA • VTRIVSQ • ORBIS REGNATRIX •

What to Look For: Image courtesy of © The Trustees of the British Museum
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Betts-15Undated (ca. 1584) Raleigh Plantation Token
Betts-15
Undated (ca. 1584) Raleigh Plantation Token
Obverse Text:

None

Reverse Text:

AS • SOONE • AS • WEE • TO • BEE • BEGVNN : WE • DID •…

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Betts-16B1596 American Commerce Medal
Betts-16B
1596 American Commerce Medal
Obverse Text:

SIDERE PROFICIANT DEXTRO NEPTVNIA REGNA

Reverse Text:

INSIGNIA FRISIÆ CISRHENANÆ | ALCK MAER | HOORN | ENCK HVSEN | MEDEN BLICH…

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Betts-171596 American Commerce Medal
Betts-17
1596 American Commerce Medal
Obverse Text:

NVNC SPE NVNC METV 1596 | ARION

Reverse Text:

LVCTOR ET EMERGO

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Betts-19Undated (1599) Maurice Prince of Orange, The Capture of St. Thomas Medal
Betts-19
Undated (1599) Maurice Prince of Orange, The Capture of St. Thomas Medal
Obverse Text:

MAVRITIVS • P • AVR • CO • NASS • CAT • MARC • VER • ET •…

Reverse Text:

None

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Betts-201599 Capture of St. Thomas Medal
Betts-20
1599 Capture of St. Thomas Medal
Obverse Text:

SIC • NESCIA • CEDERE • FATA

Reverse Text:

EN • ALTERA • QVÆ • VEHAT • ARGO

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Betts-211602 Holland Rivals Spain for the New World Medal
Betts-21
1602 Holland Rivals Spain for the New World Medal
Obverse Text:

POSSVNT QVÆ POSSE VIDENTUR 16 MARTY • 1602 •

Reverse Text:

NON SVFFICIT ORBIS | QVO SALTAS INSEQVAR

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Betts-22Undated (1624) Maurice Prince of Orange, Dutch Naval Victories Off Peru and Brazil Medal
Betts-22
Undated (1624) Maurice Prince of Orange, Dutch Naval Victories Off Peru and Brazil Medal
Obverse Text:

Mauritius D. G. Princeps Auriacæ . Com . Nafs : &e., Prov : confæ Gub. |…

Reverse Text:

Ie Maintiendray | 16 Cum Privif 24.

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Betts-231628 Capture of the Spanish Treasure Fleet in the Bay of Matanzas, Cuba Medal
Betts-23
1628 Capture of the Spanish Treasure Fleet in the Bay of Matanzas, Cuba Medal
Obverse Text:

GENTES • SERVIENT • EI • DONEC • VENIAT • TEMPUS • QUO •…

Reverse Text:

VI • ID • SEPT • CI? • I? • CXXVIII • AVSPIC • | FOED •…

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Betts-241629 Capture of the Spanish Treasure Fleet in the Bay of Matanzas, Cuba Medal
Betts-24
1629 Capture of the Spanish Treasure Fleet in the Bay of Matanzas, Cuba Medal
Obverse Text:

NON FERRO TANTVM HISPANVS QVANTVM • VALET • AVRO : AVRVM • AVFER •…

Reverse Text:

INDICA CLASSE | INTERCEPTA, PAR- | TISQ. SINE SANGVINE | OPVLENTISSIMIS •…

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Betts-251629 Capture of the Spanish Treasure Fleet in the Bay of Matanzas, Cuba Medal
Betts-25
1629 Capture of the Spanish Treasure Fleet in the Bay of Matanzas, Cuba Medal
Obverse Text:

NON FERRO TANTVM HISPANVS QVANTVM • VALET • AVRO : AVRVM • AVFER •…

Reverse Text:

INDICA CLASSE | INTERCEPTA, PAR- | TISQ. SINE SANGVINE | OPVLENTISSIMIS •…

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Betts-311631 Capture of Pernambuco Medal
Betts-31
1631 Capture of Pernambuco Medal
Obverse Text:

AUREA CONDET SÆCULA | SHERTOGENBOS | A. VD. W. | MARS | VICTORI

Reverse Text:

AVSPICIIS ADSIT VICTRIX CONCORDIA | 1627 GROL | 1629 WESEL | 1628 SVLVER…

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Betts-321631 Victory at the Bay of All Saints Medal
Betts-32
1631 Victory at the Bay of All Saints Medal
Obverse Text:

PHILIP • IIII • HISP • INDIAR • REX • CATHOLICVS

Reverse Text:

DVLCIA • SIC • MERVIT | 1631

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