Hoard of 20th- and 19th-century Argentine medals

Dentuck

A year or two ago there was an auction lot on eBay: a huge collection of approximately 1,000 Argentinian medals from the 1800s and early 1900s -- naturally with lots of those beautiful 19th- and 20th-century designs you see on these pieces: railroadiana, political, military, religious, architectural, etc. The entire lot was up for bid starting at $6,000. I wish I'd trusted the system enough to place a bid... I wonder what ever happened to those medals. Did anyone else happen to see that auction lot? (If you regularly eBay-search for Latin American exonumia you might have; the lot was put up for bid at least twice.)

ajaan

Didn't see it. I have one Argentine medal.

Nice icon there.

danglen

I bought a lot of around 200 Argentine medals, mostly nautical, from Louis Hudson. He is a dealer getting on in years, lives in the Carolinas now, but at one time lived in Argentina (as did I). I saw him again in January at the FUN Show in Orlando.

Dentuck

Hi Danglen. Hope you're doing well. Congratulations on your new shop!

You and I traded some Prussian 5-mark crowns a few years ago.

You know, I'll probably always regret not buying that lot of medals. It would've been fun to research and explore them, cherrypick the good ones, and sell the rest -- although I'm sure I wouldn't have parted with many!

I don't actively collect Argentina, but I've picked up a few pieces here and there over the years.

danglen

Yes, I remember we did some business. Argentines have a habit of striking a medal anytime some minor event occurs, so there are a ton of them out there. However, even though they made a lot of them, some are very artistic

Dentuck

So, would $6 apiece in bulk have been a good deal?

Dentuck

Here's one I no longer have:



This is how I described it when I sold it:

"Phrygian cap" honor medal: 1816-1897, Morganesque

This is a fine old South American medal, shaped like a shield, and struck to honor the patriots who assembled the Congress of the United Provinces in the Argentinian city of Tucuman.

This congress was formed in 1816, following the example of the independence movements in Buenos Aires and other cities in Argentina. The congress declared the country's independence from Spain, and saw the writing of its first constitution.

A few years later, in the outskirts of the city, Bishop Jose Eusebio Colombres harvested cane and manufactured sugar, laying the groundwork for the province's main industry and economic growth.

Dentuck

... and another...



My carnival-barker sales pitch when I sold it:

1895 Child care medal - Argentina - Amazing!

A frankly outstanding medal ... more than 100 years old ... honoring Argentina's commitment to it children!

This medal was struck to commemorate the 1895 inauguration of a child care center (and positioning of the cornerstone of the school of arts and its offices) in Buenos Aires.

Obverse: A detailed high-relief allegory of a maternal woman carrying one naked child and leading another protectively by the hand. Her loose-fitting robes drape to leave one breast exposed, and her hips are wide -- obvious artistic allusions to motherhood and nurturing. The legend reads "PATRONATO DE LA INFANCIA" ("Patronage of Childhood").

Reverse: The legend "Inauguracion de la sala-cuna y colocacion de la piedra fundamental de la escuela de artes y oficios patronato de la infancia -- Buenos Aires / 4 Diciembre 1895", with the designer's monogram below.

Composition: Silver or silvered bronze.

Diameter: About 31mm (~1-1/4"); approx. the size of a European half crown or U.S. half dollar.

Grade: Almost Uncirculated with crisp detail and high rims. The medal has toned naturally (and attractively, I think) with age; the obverse is silver in the center, with toning spreading to the edges, giving the illusion of a spotlight on the mother and children. The reverse is more evenly toned, but again with some silver evident in the center.

This piece probably sat in the cabinet of a dignitary, teacher, or government official for many years.

Dentuck

Wouldn't you love to have 1,000 of these old medals to research?