102164 | SPAIN. Christopher Columbus bronze Medal.

102164  |  SPAIN. Christopher Columbus bronze Medal. Issued 1892. "Barcelona a Colon"/The 400th Anniversary of the Discovery of the New World/Quadricentennial (70mm, 153.26 g, 12h). By Solà y Camats in Barcelona.

 

BARCELONA A COLON, bust right, wearing fur; around, elaborate border showing intricate scenes of Columbus's voyage; below, crowned coat-of-arms within wreath composed of laurel branch and palm frond / IV CENTENARIO DEL DESCUBRIMIENTO DE LAS AMERICAS, España standing left, holding olive branch and cruciform scepter; lion behind standing left; monument to Columbus in background to left. Edge: A few light marks, otherwise plain.

 

Eglit 283; Rulau –; Crusafont i Sabater 859. Choice Mint State. Warm brown surfaces, with some hints of red in the protected areas. A very rare and highly artistic type. Compare to a similar example in Goldberg 87 (15 September 2015), lot 3439 (which realized a hammer of $420 [plus buyer's fee]).

 

During the lead-up to the quadricentennial of Columbus's initial contact with the New World, numerous medals were designed and struck, both in the United States—in conjunction with the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago—and abroad, sometimes for this event or for similar others. This particularly interesting medal was issued in Spain specifically for the 400th anniversary, honoring the explorations and exploits of the Italian-born explorer.

 

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