262 - 18-karat gold medal—a gift for the wife of Marco Pérez Jiménez (the 42nd President of Venezuela from 1952 to 1958) for the inauguration ceremony of the Centro Simón Bolívar, dated 1954

18-karat gold medal—a gift for the wife of Marco Pérez Jiménez (the 42nd President of Venezuela from 1952 to 1958) for the inauguration ceremony of the Centro Simón Bolívar, dated 1954 18-karat gold medal. Obverse: relief depiction of the Centro Simón Bolívar building, along with the inscription “CENTRO SIMON BOLIVAR CARACAS 2-12-54.” Reverse: view of the building and the inscription “Dna FLOR CHALBAUD de PEREZ JIMENEZ.” The setting is hallmarked “18K.” Diameter including setting: 4.9 cm; inner diameter: 4.4 cm; total weight: 75.78 g. This piece is dedicated to Dona Flor Chalbaud de Pérez Jiménez, the wife of General Marco Pérez Jiménez (1914–2001), the former president and dictator of Venezuela. He served as the 42nd president of Venezuela from 1952 to 1958. During his tenure, Caracas underwent significant transformation through large-scale public construction projects, highways, and monumental architecture. One of the most famous projects was the Centro Simón Bolívar in Caracas, pictured here, which is known for its monumental twin towers, now also known as the Torres de El Silencio. The engraved date, December 2, 1954, is associated with the building’s opening. It could therefore be a personal presentation piece commissioned for his wife, presented to her in connection with the opening ceremony, and thus a one-of-a-kind item. The piece is attributed to the goldsmith, sculptor, and medalist David Vallmitjana i Vallés. He worked in Caracas from 1946 to 1957. In 1950, he received the Venezuelan National Prize for Applied Arts. Among his best-known works is a replica of Simón Bolívar’s sword, commissioned by the Venezuelan government. Condition: I -