Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature Sale 3041 Sess. 4 13 August 2015
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Mexico
Queen Maria Luisa - Royal Order of Noble Ladies - Proclamation Medal Set 1793, A remarkable trio of medals prepared by Spanish-born and, at the time, chief engraver of the Mexico City mint, Geronimo Antonio Gil, with each example having been struck with the following specifications:Gold: 55mm/107.38gms (Grove-unlisted; extremely rare) - UNCSilver: 55mm/79.13gms (Grove-C-265; rare) - AUBronze: 55mm/95.08gms (Grove-C-265b; very scarce) - Choice UNCThe all-important gold striking (nearly 3.5 ounces in weight!!!), one of likely 2 or 3 known, has minor handling in the form of scattered hairlines and light ticks, but full brilliance is retained, while the silver has a touch of highpoint friction and more widespread handling than the gold piece. The bronze remains in a marvelous state, with light tone and full reflectivity.Struck at the Mexico City Mint, and commissioned by Dona Maria Guadalupe de Moncada y Berrio, this medal type was issued to commemorate the founding of the Spanish Royal Order of Noble Ladies of the Queen, a group of upper-class women led by Queen Maria Luisa, wife of King Charles IV. Seen as a morale booster for war-weary Spain, woman of this "club", would organize and participate in civic events and serve as community leaders. While the order lasted until 1931, and its historic significance is documented, perhaps the most impressive relic of their existence happens to be this medal. More art than medallic, today it is seen as one of Gil's most endearing works, fully showcasing his mastery of the art of engraving. On the obverse, Maria Luisa is displayed in incredibly fine style, her portrait rising in cameoed prominence (on the gold strike) from the surfaces, with stunning dimensionality in her hair curls, sash and bow; this would be the first and last time that the Queen would be featured alone in medallic works of Mexico. The reverse design however is what makes this medal a classic! In the centers, Gil replicates a ceremony of nobles, presumably within the Queen's chambers, as she awards medals of Order; above, the allegory Fame trumpets his horn, while cherubs tend to a smoking urn behind the ceremony. All together, the composition is impressively dynamic, an accomplishment that drastically surpasses the typical quality and style of the era. In many ways, this could be viewed as Gil's greatest masterpiece. Certainly, no matter the prominence of the next cabinet it enters, these three medals, together, will stand out as a centerpiece.Ex. Ponterio (1/2004 - Lot 864)
Estimate: 20000-25000 USD
Queen Maria Luisa - Royal Order of Noble Ladies - Proclamation Medal Set 1793, A remarkable trio of medals prepared by Spanish-born and, at the time, chief engraver of the Mexico City mint, Geronimo Antonio Gil, with each example having been struck with the following specifications:Gold: 55mm/107.38gms (Grove-unlisted; extremely rare) - UNCSilver: 55mm/79.13gms (Grove-C-265; rare) - AUBronze: 55mm/95.08gms (Grove-C-265b; very scarce) - Choice UNCThe all-important gold striking (nearly 3.5 ounces in weight!!!), one of likely 2 or 3 known, has minor handling in the form of scattered hairlines and light ticks, but full brilliance is retained, while the silver has a touch of highpoint friction and more widespread handling than the gold piece. The bronze remains in a marvelous state, with light tone and full reflectivity.Struck at the Mexico City Mint, and commissioned by Dona Maria Guadalupe de Moncada y Berrio, this medal type was issued to commemorate the founding of the Spanish Royal Order of Noble Ladies of the Queen, a group of upper-class women led by Queen Maria Luisa, wife of King Charles IV. Seen as a morale booster for war-weary Spain, woman of this "club", would organize and participate in civic events and serve as community leaders. While the order lasted until 1931, and its historic significance is documented, perhaps the most impressive relic of their existence happens to be this medal. More art than medallic, today it is seen as one of Gil's most endearing works, fully showcasing his mastery of the art of engraving. On the obverse, Maria Luisa is displayed in incredibly fine style, her portrait rising in cameoed prominence (on the gold strike) from the surfaces, with stunning dimensionality in her hair curls, sash and bow; this would be the first and last time that the Queen would be featured alone in medallic works of Mexico. The reverse design however is what makes this medal a classic! In the centers, Gil replicates a ceremony of nobles, presumably within the Queen's chambers, as she awards medals of Order; above, the allegory Fame trumpets his horn, while cherubs tend to a smoking urn behind the ceremony. All together, the composition is impressively dynamic, an accomplishment that drastically surpasses the typical quality and style of the era. In many ways, this could be viewed as Gil's greatest masterpiece. Certainly, no matter the prominence of the next cabinet it enters, these three medals, together, will stand out as a centerpiece.Ex. Ponterio (1/2004 - Lot 864)
Estimate: 20000-25000 USD