Rare 1904 Chile and Bolivian Peace Medal
Boosibri
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Struck in 1904 commemorating the peace treaty in the war between the two countries. The resulting treaty landlocked Bolivia and remains a source of tension today. 4 to 5 are documented with a mintage of likely less than 10. Now to find the provenance.
Auction description:
Chile / Bolivia, Treaty of Peace and Friendship 1904, Gold medal 1904.
Treaty of Peace and Friendship 1904, to define finally the boundaries between the two countries after Bolivia lost the War of the Pacific 1879 –1883. Gold medal 1904 (38mm; 35.18gm. XRF as 90% AV) by Guillermo Cordova. Minerva holding up a torch and two flags, beside her a condor, with a cornucopia at her feet, rev. The two arms of Chile and Bolivia divided by a caduceus (trade) with olive and palm-branch below (Peace and Friendship), TRATADO DE PAZ AMISTRAD Y COMMERCIO, XX DE OCTUBRE DE MCMIV. (-) Extremely Fine, matt surfaces, in contemporary box. Very Rare.
In 1879 Chile went to war with Bolivia and its ally Peru over disagreements re. taxing of joint mining concessions. However, in 1880 Chile decisively beat the allies at the battle of Tacna and Bolivia retired from the war and as reparations Chile took the province of Litoral from Bolivia, ie. its entire access to the sea, thus rendering Bolivia a landlocked country. It was only in 1904 that Bolivia grudgingly accepted this situation and the border was formally recognised in the above treaty ceding the whole of its coastline to Chile but retaining unencumbered access to duty-free formerly owned ports. Bolivia is still unhappy with this state of affairs and has as recently as 2018 taken Chile to the International Court of Justice over its sovereign right of access to the sea.
Not a bad buy for 10% over spot.
Comments
Great looking addition. I suspect if this resided in a box, the surfaces might be fairly well preserved and submission worthy. Congrats- well played.
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Very cool……and great work at 10% over spot!