Medal Commemorating the 500th Anniversary of the First Meeting of Christopher Columbus with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in 1486 and his Sephardic Jewish Financiers
1986
caption:
The reverse depicts profile portraits of Abraham Zacuto, an astronomer whose tables and instruments were used by Columbus in navigating the Atlantic; Luis de Santangel, comptroller to the Spanish crown, who lent money for the first voyage; and Don Isaac Abravanel, scholar and financial adviser to the crown, who also lent money for the voyage.
Despite their contributions to the epochal voyage, all three were expelled from the Iberian peninsula with thousands of other Jews within days after Columbus had sailed for the New World in 1492.
Identifer: CJF-RFC2014310
Medium
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Description
In observance of the 500th anniversary of the historic first meeting of Christopher Columbus with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in 1486, the Jewish-American Hall of Fame (in 1986) honored the Sephardic friends of the explorer who helped make his trip possible. The antique bronze medals were limited to 750 minted. These rare medals are 2 1/4" in diameter weighing about 3-1/3 oz and are individually serial numbered (this offering is #259). Commissioned by the Magnus Museum in Berkley, and manufactured by Medallic Art Co. Sculptor, Paul Vincze.
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