Tomas Batista

The medal's obverse bears the seal of Puerto Rico.

The reverse depicts a view of the Capitol Building in San Juan. Around top, 1970 CONVENTION SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO; under building, CAPITOL BUILDING - Batista ~ 1970; in exergue, NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF / STATE LEGISLATIVE / LEADERS

The medal's obverse bears African slave with broken chains dangling from raised, shackled wrists. Around top, CENTENARIO DE LA ABOLICION DE LA ESCLAVITUD EN PUERTO RICO; at bottom, 1873 - 1973; signed at bottom right, B. 1973

The reverse bears scroll and laurel branch. On scroll, En homenaje a / los que sufrieron / los rigores de la / esclavitud y a todos / los que en Puerto Rico / y España lucharon / por su abolición.; around, INSTITUTO DE CULTURA PUERTORRIQUEÑA

The medal was issued by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, a governmental agency created in 1955. Among other duties, it manages the general archives and the national library.

Tomas Batista, a native Puerto Rican artist, designed the obverse and Ramon Gordils, one of MACo's staff artists, did the reverse. 

The circular medal measures 50mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1973-070

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Luis Munoz Marin, facing left. Signed at right, Batista _ 1987

The reverse bears Marin's signature in recessed center field; below, 1980; around, · FUNDACION LUIS MUNOX MARIN · / PUERTO RICO; signed (TB monogram) 1980

José Luis Alberto Muñoz Marín (February 18, 1898 – April 30, 1980) was the first governor of Puerto Rico, journalist, politician, and statesman, regarded as the "Father of Modern Puerto Rico" and the "Architect of the Commonwealth."

In 1948 he was the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico, spearheading an administration that engineered profound economic, political and social reforms; accomplishments that were internationally lauded by many politicians, statesmen, political scientists and economists of the period. Marin was instrumental in the destruction of the Nationalist party and its efforts to gain independence.

After his death from complications of a severe fever he suffered at age 82, his funeral became an island-wide event, dwarfing his own father's funeral in 1916, and attended by tens of thousands of followers.

The circular medal measures 76.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.