Lot 655
Lot 30655 > Republic gold "Battle of Yatay" Chief's Medal 1865 UNC, Barac-9 (unpriced), Fonrobert-Unl., R&S-Uy9. 34x28mm. 20.78gm. With integral mount and ring. Instituted 30 September 1865. Obv. Arms of Uruguay with 3 stars to either side, VENCEDORES - DEL YATAY above and below. Rev. 17 De AGOSTO DE 1865 in 5 lines within wreath. By all indications an excessively rare Uruguayan decoration, entirely missing from the Fonrobert collection and unpriced in Barac, awarded the Uruguayan soldiers who defeated a Paraguayan army at the Battle of Yatay on August 17, 1865. Perhaps the most significant battle of the Triple Alliance War for the nation, Yatay marked major victory for Uruguay as its soldiers played the leading role in defeating the invading army of Paraguayan dictator Solano Lopez--a decisive event which prevented Paraguay from being able to mount any further major offensives in the war. Visually, the piece appears remarkably original and free of any signs of cleaning or damage so common on Latin American medals of the period. This is the sole example of this medal in gold we have been able to locate coming to auction, certainly marking this as a covetable opportunity for any serious collector of Latin American medals! Reportedly privately purchased in 1958. From the Dresden Collection
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