Lead cross clechée with laurel wreath between the arms, with loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a circular central medallion bearing the arms of Uruguay within laurel branches encircled by a ring inscribed ‘CAMPAÑA DEL PARAGUAY 1865-1869’; the reverse with a circular central medallion inscribed ‘A LAS VIRTUDES MILITARES’ encircled by a ring inscribed ‘REPUBLICA ORIENTAL DEL URUGUAY’; the medal is of lead, a soft metal, and the impression is not deep; on replaced but correct ribbon. The medal was instituted by a decree of 4 April 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. A rare medal.
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