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Peru, Lima,c1870s - Peruvian Commemorative Railroad Medals :

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Railroadiana, Trains Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,500.00 USD
Peru, Lima,c1870s - Peruvian Commemorative Railroad Medals :
Lot of three. The first [Meiggs railroad commemorative coin listed here],[is] 51 millimeters in diameter, 4mm thick, is dated January 1, 1870. It was designed by C. E. Bryant and struck by the Lima Mint. As the inscriptions are in Spanish the translation is here given: On the obverse . . . The name of the railroad FERRO-CARRIL CENTRAL TRASANDINO - Section from Callao to Oroya - Chief Engineer E. Malinowsky - Contractor Enrique Meiggs. There are three mountains in the background, churches in the right foreground and a train, with cars, on a track that goes through the two buildings. The smoke from the stack is level. Reverse: The inauguration of the work took place on January 1, 1870, with the blessing of the cornerstone by the Most Reverend Archbishop of Lima, Seb. Goyeneche y Barreda, D. D. Within the circular Chain of dots are the names of the President of the Republic of Peru and of his cabinet [Pradeau, 1944, 6]. This medal is silver and has a couple of nicks on the edge.

We have two identical medals, one in bronze, the other in silver. On the obverse it says the medal was struck commemorating the "Ferro-Carril Trasandino Section between Arequipa and Puno" measuring "52 millimeters in diameter, 4 millimeters thick" and "designed by C. E. Bryant" [Pradeau, 1944, 6]. It is dated 29 January 1870. Henry (Enrique) Meiggs is noted as the contractor with J. L. Thorndike as the jefe (chief, leader or boss). The engraved picture has two mountains in the background, a train going over a viaduct filled with water, with smoke billowing out of its stack. On the reverse, the words on the medal read "the inauguration of the Obra and Bendito." The Reverend "Obispo de Arequipa" blessed the endeavor. Several names are listed on the medal, one being the President of Peru, D. Jose Balta. Both of these medals have some slight edge wear.