Inname van Bocachica Castle te Carthagena door admiraal Vernon, generaal Wentworth en commander Lestock 1741

This is a medal made by Edward Pinchbeck celebrating the British capture of Bocachica Castle in 1741. It's a small object, about four centimeters in diameter, but it speaks volumes about the politics of its time. The medal commemorates a fleeting victory during the War of Jenkins' Ear, a conflict driven by Britain's quest for dominance in trade and territory. On one side, we see portraits of Admiral Vernon, General Wentworth, and Commander Lestock, symbols of British authority and military might. The other side depicts the captured castle, a trophy of imperial ambition. But beyond the celebration of British triumph, this medal also reflects the complex dynamics of colonialism and power. The British victory came at a great cost, and the war itself was rooted in the exploitation of resources and people in the Americas. It reminds us to consider whose stories are often left untold in historical narratives.