1760 Silver Medal Betts-460, Grove-K-33 Charles III - Guatemala

Coin Details

Description

This 1760 silver medal (Betts-460, Grove K-33) is a Guatemala proclamation medal for Charles III, cataloged under both Betts and Grove numbering systems. The Grove K-33 designation provides the standard reference for Spanish colonial proclamation medals, complementing the Betts catalog's broader American historical focus. This variant (Betts-460) differs from Betts-461 and Betts-462 in its specific die combination, reflecting the multiple versions produced during the proclamation ceremonies in Guatemala. The silver composition and official nature of the medal make it a primary document of the colonial ceremony that formally bound Guatemala to its new sovereign, reinforcing the chains of authority that connected the most distant colonial outposts to the Spanish crown. Colonial medals served multiple functions simultaneously: as propaganda tools promoting imperial policy, as diplomatic gifts establishing relationships with indigenous peoples and rival powers, and as commemorative art preserving historical memory.

Rarity Notes

Original 1760 silver. Guatemala proclamation, Grove K-33. Scarce.

Cross References

Betts-460; Grove K-33; Guatemala; Charles III proclamation 1760