Commemorative, Historical and Art Medals

Medals of the Early Colonial Period and the European Heritage, Charles IV Proclaimed King, Santiago de Chile, 1789, a silver medal by R. Nazaual, youthful bust right, rev. two Araucanian Indians, one with bow and arrow, other with spear, to right a Rhea bird, 43mm, 26.78g (Medina 146; Herrera 130; Fonrobert 9806; BDM IV, 235 and VIII, 91). Scratch on both sides, otherwise about very fine
£150-200

Provenance: Bt H.M.F. Schulman 1970.

The reverse legend acknowledges Ambrosio Bernardo O'Higgins [born Ambrose Bernard O'Higgins], 1st Marquis of Osorno (c. 1720-1801), the Irish-born colonial administrator for Spain. He had led the conquest of the Indian region of Araucania, then served as Captain General of Chile (1788-96), before being promoted to Viceroy of Peru (1796-1801). The Chilean independence leader Bernard O’Higgins was his illegitimate son