Campeche Medal. Juan Pedro Iturralde (1790)

Struck in 1790, this medal commemorates the proclamation of Carlos IV in Campeche, the walled port of the Yucatán peninsula. It carries the associated name of Juan Pedro Iturralde, surely the notable or authority who sponsored the issue as a show of loyalty to the king.

Campeche was a key stronghold of the southeast: its fortified enclosure defended the coast from the attacks of pirates and corsairs that ravaged the Gulf, and through its port went logwood dye and other riches of the region. Although the king ascended the throne in 1788, the oath reached the more remote provinces during 1789 and 1790.

That a port and frontier city like Campeche struck its own proclamation medal confirms the reach of the imperial ritual: even the far southeast of the viceroyalty, guarded behind walls, joined the great act of recognizing the new sovereign of the Spains and the Indies.

The Campeche medal dedicated to Juan Pedro Iturralde, struck in 1790, is a colonial silver piece commemorating a figure tied to this region of southeastern Mexico. At 40 millimeters in diameter and 26.89 grams in weight, it is an object of great historical and numismatic interest that draws those who collect pieces of viceregal Mexico.

Being made of silver, its value starts from a clear floor: the precious-metal content of 26.89 grams. Above that, what drives it up is preservation, the short size of the issue, and interest in the theme it commemorates. A piece with no wear, natural patina, and its original case is worth considerably more than one that has been handled or aggressively cleaned.

To identify and value it, it is worth confirming the metal by weighing it to estimate its fine silver content, reading carefully the legend and the motif that give it its historical interest, checking that it has no scratches or heavy cleaning, and looking for the case or certificate that may have come with it, since 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. Its catalog reference is Grove, Medals of México, I #C-42.