Ángela Peralta Medal (1866)

Silver medal dedicated to Ángela Peralta in 1866, engraved by A. Flores, in tribute to the most celebrated Mexican soprano of the 19th century.

Ángela Peralta (1845-1883), nicknamed the "Mexican Nightingale", dazzled the great theaters of Europe, among them La Scala in Milan, where she was called "Angelica di voce e di nome". In 1866 she sang for the emperors Maximilian and Carlota, which earned her the title of chamber singer of the empire. She died tragically in 1883 during a yellow fever epidemic in Mazatlán.

This piece pays tribute to an artist who carried Mexico's name to the world's most prestigious stages. It reflects that Mexican medallic art honored not only soldiers and politicians, but also the great figures of culture.

The Medalla Ángela Peralta (1866) is a commemorative silver piece dedicated to the most celebrated Mexican soprano of the 19th century, nicknamed "El Ruiseñor Mexicano" (The Mexican Nightingale). It weighs 25 g, measures 33.06 mm, and bears the design of A. Flores G. Like any medal, it was never legal tender: it is a commemorative object, not circulating currency.

What it shows

Important note: the image loaded on this listing does not correspond to this medal. The available photos show a different piece (a 1964 Mexico-Philippines medal with a galleon and the legend "Miguel López de Legazpi"), so here we do not describe the obverse or reverse from those images so as not to mislead you. As soon as we have the correct photograph of the Ángela Peralta medal, we will update this section with the actual engraved motif.

Context

The year 1866 was pivotal in Ángela Peralta's life. She sang before Emperor Maximilian and Empress Carlota and received the appointment of Cantatriz de Cámara del Imperio (Chamber Singer of the Empire), a recognition of her internationally famous operatic career. Pieces like this one remember her as one of the great cultural figures of 19th-century Mexico.

Value and collecting

With a medal, condition and metal govern. Being silver, the weight of 25 g sets a floor by content, and the state and demand for the figure do the rest. Before buying or selling, compare real references: check the directory of shops and ask in the forum.