An 1865-1869 Uruguay Medal for the War with Paraguay
Blackened bronze, 41.2 mm, without its ring and with replacement ribbon, extremely fine. Footnote: The medal was instituted by a decree of April 4, 1891 and awarded to the military of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, who had taken part in the war with Paraguay. The war was triggered by the expansionist aims of the Paraguayan dictator Francisco Solano López but had much to do with control of the rich River Plate area. The war ended in defeat for Paraguay, from which it would take her decades to recover, and greater independence of action for Uruguay

