Saint Patrick's Battalion Medal (1960)

This gold medal honors the San Patricio Battalion, that group of mostly Irish soldiers who, during the U.S. invasion of 1846 and 1847, deserted the invading army to fight on Mexico's side.

Bonded by the Catholic faith and fed up with the mistreatment in the U.S. ranks, the San Patricios fought as artillerymen in battles such as Churubusco, where they fell in 1847. Many were executed by the invading troops. Their story became a symbol of solidarity and resistance, and Mexico remembers them with honor.

Cataloged by Grove as 768, this 1960 piece, right in the Year of the Fatherland, pays tribute to those foreign combatants who gave their lives for Mexico. The minting of medals commemorating deeds of national defense fell to the Mexican Mint.

The San Patricio Battalion medal, struck in 1960, honors the memory of those Irish soldiers who switched sides during the war between Mexico and the United States to fight on the Mexican side. It is a gold piece loaded with historical symbolism, 38.14 millimeters in diameter and weighing 41.35 grams.

Being made of gold, its value has a clear floor: the fine-metal content of its 41.35 grams. From there, what drives it upward is condition, how short the issue was, and interest in the subject it commemorates. A piece with no wear and its original case is worth considerably more than a handled one.

How to identify and value this medal

1. Confirm the metal. It is gold; weigh it to estimate its fine-metal content.
2. Read the legend and the motif. It commemorates the San Patricio Battalion, which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. No scratches or aggressive cleaning, with natural patina.
4. Look for the case and certificate if it had them: they add collector value.

Explore more pieces in the Mexican numismatics catalog and learn to read the marks in the guide on how to identify Mexican mints. For the collector, this medal is cataloged as Grove, Medals of México, II #768.