Watch List notes:

Ecuador, silver oval military decoration, Battle of Pichincha / Liberation of Quito (1822), very rare, ex-J. Sanford Saltus, ex-ANS. Fonrobert-8333. 8.37 grams, 29x25mm. Obverse with A / LOS LIBER / TADORES / DE / QUITO . on capped shield inside flags and cornucopiae below sunburst below EL PERU within wreath, EN PI- CHINCHA on ribbon at bottom; reverse with circular chain at top containing radiant sunface and legend LA PATRIA AGRADECIDA (rest of reverse blank); holed at top with two jump-rings. Lustrous UNC with trivial marks on reverse only, an exceptional grade for this highly desirable medal from the dawn of Ecuadorian Independence from Spain (as part of Peru), also with important pedigree. In the Battle of Pichincha, which took place on May 24,1822, on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano next to the city of Quito, General Antonio José de Sucre and his army defeated Spanish Royalist forces to liberate Quito and what would eventually become the Republic of Ecuador. The pedigree of this piece is also worth of note, as J. Sanford Saltus was one of the most important ANS leaders and benefactors (an award in his name has been given periodically since 1913 to sculptors for Outstanding Achievement in the Art of the Medal) and an avid collector throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s. Pedigreed to the J. Sanford Saltus collection and to the American Numismatic Society archives and subsequent sale through Morton and Eden in April 2007, lot #416.
($3,500-$5,000)