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Colombia (Venezuela), large silver medal, dated 1828 (struck 1829), Bolivar saved from assassination

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Exonumia - Medals Start Price:2,400.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,500.00 USD
Colombia (Venezuela), large silver medal, dated 1828 (struck 1829), Bolivar saved from assassination
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This item SOLD at 2021 Nov 05 @ 16:39UTC-4 : AST/EDT
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Colombia (Venezuela), large silver medal, dated 1828 (struck 1829), Bolivar saved from assassination, rare, NGC AU 55, ex-Prieto. Urdaneta Braschi-I.A.12. Approx 43 grams and 43mm. Obverse with right-facing bust of Bolivar above a pedestal; reverse with all-seeing eye in radiant pyramid above L.D.P. / SALVO LA VIDA / DEL LIBERTADOR / SIMON BOLIVAR / LA NOCHA DEL 25. DE SEP. / DE 1828. A rare and important medal, reportedly two of which were made in gold and originally ten in silver but probably ten to fifteen more exist, most cleaned or damaged, hence this straight-graded AU example (with nice toning, a few minor marks and flaws including a small dig to the right of NOCHE) is very rare. Until recently, this famous medal (nicknamed "septembrina" because the assassination attempt was in September) was thought to have been made in Venezuela (as the NGC label states), but a presentation in 2019 by Carlos Bacalao at the museum La Quinta San Pedro Alejandrino in Bogota revealed that it was actually made in Colombia, and its dies are housed in the Museo Nacional de Bogota. Also, as a series of soon-to-be published articles will show, the meaning of L.D.P. has been linked to a Masonic lodge (note the all-seeing eye in radiant pyramid) instead of standing for "La Divina Providencia" or Bolivar's aide, L.D. Palacios. NGC #6272343-003. Pedigreed to the Tomas Prieto collection (Aureo & Calico auction of April 2021, with lot-tag 265), with original box.