Commemorative, Historical and Art Medals

United Kingdom, British Colonies and unspecified British-made Anti-Slavery Medals, ENGLAND, William III, Halfcrown [1695-1701], engraved (Love is true to none but you, E. Lee), rev. (Part’d my true love and I my, W. Cooksley, the ship Ville de Paris), 32mm, 13.21g. Attempted piercing at top with the intention for wear, coin very worn, engraved work very fine, interesting and rare, of particular Jamaican interest
£300-400

Provenance: DNW Auction 50, 20 June 2001, lot 655.

The Ville de Paris sailed for the West Indies in March 1781, the flagship of a fleet of 20 ships of the line under the Comte de Grasse. The vessel saw action at the Battle of Fort Royal, Chesapeake and St Kitts, but was captured by Admiral Sir George Rodney at the Battle of the Saintes on 12 April 1782. She was sent to Jamaica to be refitted and it was at this time that Seaman E. Lee was seconded from HMS Formidable on 26 April to work on her, being mustered on the Ville de Paris on 29 April. She arrived at Port Royal on 30 April and on 16 June Lee returned to Formidable. She sailed to England under the command of Captain Wilkinson but was lost with all hands but one, in a hurricane off the Newfoundland Banks in September 1782. The Roehrs ticket has details of the Admiralty papers at the Public Record Offic, Kew. It is most unusual to be able to place an engraved coin to an exact location and precise date. For an engraved shilling depicting HMS Formidable see Comfort, Forget Me Not, p.62, no.39