Catalog Reference

Grove-K-54
Herrera, Charles III, 101
Medina-117

Engraver: Unknown
Composition: Silver (Cast)
Size: 29.4 mm
Weight: 8.37 grams

There are reportedly two examples known of this medal. Stack's Bowers Galleries has sold one and the other being in the collection of Arturo Pedrals, Barcelona (Medina plate). The obverse shows a draped bust of Charles III facing the right. On the reverse are the Arms of Tabasco. This is a very interesting medal that is clearly of local manufacture. It is likely the local artist designed this medal using the portrait from the gold coinage of Ferdinand VI as his reference model. A hand-applied edge was done with a small circular punch repeatedly, creating a very crude rendition of colonial edging. This medal leads to some speculation. First and foremost, the portrait is that of Ferdinand VI, rather than Charles III. Secondly, the style of the kings name appears to be of a more debased style or different font than that of the remainder of the legends. No Ferdinand VI medals are known for Tabasco, or of this portrait style in general. Our catalogers suspect the proto-mold for this medal was probably produced from an earlier medal of Ferdinand VI which is no longer known to exist. The crude nature of the casting would also support this, suggesting the "madre" or "mother coin" used to produce this mold was also cast.

The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the January 2015 NYINC Auction, where it realized $1,527.