Hi there! I have been researching this Colombian medal from 1825. The front has two angels and the back says, "A SIMON BOLIVAR LIBERTADOR DE COLOMBIA Y DEL PERU EL CONGRESO DE COLOMBIA ANO DE MDCCXXV". I have included with the photos the original congressional decree where the Congress of the Republica de Colombia found Simon Bolivar (the Libertador himself and presidente of the Gran Colombia) victor of the battles Ayacucho and Junin and awarded him this medal. The size and specifications of the medal are in the congressional decree. One medal was made in "platina" and given to Bolivar himself and after his death was given to the president of Chile in 1902 (and never seen or photographed again). The rest were made in silver (the decree does not say how many were made in silver). It was made by Gayrard (stamped on the middle of the front side that depicts the two angels) although I cannot find record in Gayrard's biography or in any listing of his works (French is hard and I may be missing it though). Drawings of this medal are available. For instance, a drawing of the coin was displayed in an article done by the National Geographic Espana in May of this year, 2018, (titled "Simon Bolivar, el libertador de America"). I could not find the source for the drawing. La victoria de Junin: Canto a Bolivar (1825) is a poem by Jose Joaquin Olmedo. It was written after the battle of Junin and Ayacucho (the battles the medal commemorate). In the original publishing in 1825, the coins are pictured (included in the photos as well) but they must have been early renderings or some of the writing omitted because they are incomplete. The congressional decree mentions silver medals made to be passed out to "the museum" and different municipalities and schools. I cannot find any other examples of this medal save one mentioned in the "Fleury Heemsen" collection. I cannot find any auctions that include this medal. One of these medals is in the Bolivar Museum in Caracas, Venezuela (in copper and thought to be a forgery). The Colombian National Museum has record of it but does not possess it as far as I can tell (my significant other went in person and inquired). Finding a price for this medal has proved to be difficult because comparing it to similar medals that are more abundant is the only thing we can do. It is also important to note that in 1974, a commemorative sesquicentennial medal (150th anniversary) was made by Venezuela. It is usually not silver and has a large border around the same exact design originally issued in 1825. I am not inquiring about the Venezuelan commemorative coin, they are extremely common and cost around $34 (plus shipping and handling). I am extremely thankful for any and all help or input. I have been google translating up a storm and feel as though I do not know all I need to about it.
Welcome to Cointalk I don't really no anything about your coin but it might help if you would post it in World Coins you probably would get better results. Or if you like you can ask one of the moderators to move it to World coins. Dave
Hi mymissda1, There have been probably a couple of auctions of this medal registered, but they go as far back as April of 1899 (Weyl - Berlin, Lot 2460). It is a very rare medal, and only a handful of specimens are known. Two of these medals came up for auction around 2008 in Colombia as part of the Alberto Lozano Collection (One in silver the other in a white metal alloy). The Lozano Collection was deemed back then as one of the best Bolivar related medal collections ever assembled in Colombia. Ebay auctioned a white metal one probably some 10-12 years ago. Indeed, the decree only speaks of a platinum specimen struck and presented for Bolivar (rumored to be in either Chile or in California) and some struck in silver. However, I have direct knowledge of strikes of this medal in Bronze, and a white metal (tin and silver alloy) and a piedfort in silver as well. All of these medals are legit... very possibly also struck as part of the initial lot along with the silver ones. The dies for this medal are in fact part of the inventories of the Colombian National Museum. Unfortunately, not everyone who works there is knowledgeable of this fact. I visited the National Museum last month and indeed, if they have one of this medals in inventory it is not exhibited. I'll be glad to share more information on this if you need it.
