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MEDALS
BOLIVAR'S AYACUCHO MEDAL OF 1825
Gold, Oval, 31 mm by 25.5 mm, 26 g., suspension loop with gold and green enamel laurel wreath, by Atanasio Davalos, Lima, bareheaded bust of Bolivar right wearing military uniform, A SU LIBERTADOR SIMON BOLIVAR, below bust A.D., rev., the arms of Peru, EL PERU RESTAURADO EN AYACUCHO ANO DE 1824, (IA 3a), superb condition, as struck with fiery red lustre in parts, extremely rare and of the highest importance
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Gold, Oval, 31 mm by 25.5 mm, 26 g., suspension loop with gold and green enamel laurel wreath, by Atanasio Davalos, Lima, bareheaded bust of Bolivar right wearing military uniform, A SU LIBERTADOR SIMON BOLIVAR, below bust A.D., rev., the arms of Peru, EL PERU RESTAURADO EN AYACUCHO ANO DE 1824, (IA 3a), superb condition, as struck with fiery red lustre in parts, extremely rare and of the highest importance
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The Constitutional Congress decided on the 12th February 1825, in the wake of Bolivar's victory over the Spanish at Ayacucho, to strike a medal in his honor. The medal was the most important struck during his lifetime, being the origin of Venezuela's highest decoration, the Grand Collar of the Liberator. This the first medallic depiction of Bolivar, would become the model for all later medallic and numismatic portraits of the Liberator.
In the period following the Wars of Independence from Spain it was extremely difficult to produce a medal of this quality. The Spaniards had by and large removed or destroyed the machinery and tools used in their former mints in South America. More significanly perhaps, there was an acute shortage of qualified craftsman, familiar with the operations of a mint and able to cut dies and strike medals or coins of acceptable quality. The difficulties involved in designing and executing this medal are discussed in correspondence between Bolivar and Hipolito Unanue, President of the Government Council. These letters also directly mention Davalos, who continued to work at the Lima mint until at least 1839. The quality and beauty of Davlos' finished work stands as a testiment to his abilities and the commitment of the new regime to this project.
The medal was issued in gold and silver with and without a loop for suspension. The second type was struck on a round flan and the silver examples were widely distributed amongst the general populous. One such occassion was on the 30th Ocotber 1825, Bolivar's Saints Day, when they were thrown from the balcony of the Government Palace in Lima (see the following lot for examples of this type). Of the type with suspension loop only 300 were struck in gold and 3000 in silver. They were intended to be given to men or women who were actually engaged in the movement for liberation. Bolivar himself, was given 50 examples of this medal and was a great admirer of the medal. In his will he had only one example left, the others perhaps like this one, being awarded personally by Bolivar to his comrades.
In the period following the Wars of Independence from Spain it was extremely difficult to produce a medal of this quality. The Spaniards had by and large removed or destroyed the machinery and tools used in their former mints in South America. More significanly perhaps, there was an acute shortage of qualified craftsman, familiar with the operations of a mint and able to cut dies and strike medals or coins of acceptable quality. The difficulties involved in designing and executing this medal are discussed in correspondence between Bolivar and Hipolito Unanue, President of the Government Council. These letters also directly mention Davalos, who continued to work at the Lima mint until at least 1839. The quality and beauty of Davlos' finished work stands as a testiment to his abilities and the commitment of the new regime to this project.
The medal was issued in gold and silver with and without a loop for suspension. The second type was struck on a round flan and the silver examples were widely distributed amongst the general populous. One such occassion was on the 30th Ocotber 1825, Bolivar's Saints Day, when they were thrown from the balcony of the Government Palace in Lima (see the following lot for examples of this type). Of the type with suspension loop only 300 were struck in gold and 3000 in silver. They were intended to be given to men or women who were actually engaged in the movement for liberation. Bolivar himself, was given 50 examples of this medal and was a great admirer of the medal. In his will he had only one example left, the others perhaps like this one, being awarded personally by Bolivar to his comrades.