1778 Medal Real Academia de Derecho, Silver Grove K-75a

Coin Details

Description

This silver medal from 1778, cataloged as Grove K-75a, was issued by the Real Academia de Derecho (Royal Academy of Law) in Spain during the American Revolution. Spanish legal academies trained the jurists administering Spain's vast colonial empire. The silver composition indicates a prize or presentation medal for academic distinction. The Grove catalog is the standard reference for Spanish colonial medals. Spain's eventual entry into the American Revolution as a French ally in 1779 adds geopolitical context to this medal produced at the cusp of that decision. Bronze medals have served as the workhorse composition for American commemoratives, providing a durable and affordable medium that allowed broad distribution while maintaining the artistic quality of the original designs. Spanish institutional medals from this period connect to the broader story of the Spanish dollar that formed the basis of the American monetary system.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Grove K-75a, 1778 silver. Spanish institutional medals from the eighteenth century are scarce in American collections.

Cross References

PCGS #921213; Grove K-75a; Real Academia de Derecho; Silver; 1778