2231 | Medals

Automatically generated translation

ALFONSO XII. (1874-1885). Universal Exposition of Paris. (Ae. 62.39g/50mm). 1878. Extremely Fine. Scratch.

This third Universal Fair, whose theme revolved around Agriculture, Arts and Industry, was held between May and November 1878 on both banks of the Seine. Spain focused its participation on both archeology and anthropology exhibitions and not by chance; The last years of the 19th century and the first years of the 20th were the years of historicism, a current that in its sculptural and architectural aspects sought to recover styles from the past, imitating them but endowing them with some new contemporary characteristic. The classical Greek temple, represented in this medal, together with the naked torso, the female figures, or the columns of Hercules, are a true reflection of the moment in which we find ourselves.