(1745) Silver Medal Betts-345, Ferdinand - Guatemala

Coin Details

Description

This silver medal, Betts-345, is the silver variant of the Ferdinand-Guatemala medal. The silver composition indicates a more prestigious striking intended for colonial officials or important local figures in Guatemala's colonial society. Spanish colonial ceremonial medals in silver were typically distributed to the upper echelons of colonial society: viceroys, governors, bishops, prominent merchants, and military officers. The existence of both base metal and silver versions of this Guatemala medal reflects the stratified nature of colonial Spanish American society, where medal distribution followed strict hierarchical protocols that reinforced social rank and political loyalty. European courts employed specialized medalists whose skills in miniature portraiture and allegorical composition made them essential figures in the propaganda machinery that supported colonial expansion.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. Silver Spanish colonial Guatemala medal.

Cross References

Betts-345 (silver)