(1760) Gilt Bronze Medal Betts-473, Mexico City Proclamation

Coin Details

Auction Record

$2,350 AU58 02-16-2017 Heritage Auctions

Description

Betts-473 in gilt bronze is a Mexico City proclamation medal from 1760, celebrating the accession of Charles III to the Spanish throne. The gilt finish adds an elegant golden surface to the bronze base, creating a presentation-quality piece suitable for dignitaries. Mexico City, as the capital of the Viceroyalty of New Spain and the largest city in the Western Hemisphere, produced the most elaborate proclamation ceremonies and the most finely designed proclamation medals in Spanish America. The Grove-K catalog cross-reference positions this medal within the comprehensive catalog of Mexican proclamation medals compiled by Frank Grove. Mexico City proclamation medals feature detailed obverse portraits of the new monarch and reverse designs incorporating the city's coat of arms, allegorical imagery, or architectural representations. The gilt bronze composition placed this medal between the standard bronze (for general distribution) and silver (for officials) in the hierarchy of proclamation medal production.

Rarity Notes

Gilt bronze Mexico City proclamation medal. Mid-tier presentation quality. Scarce with gilding intact.

Cross References

Betts-473; PCGS #619540