[Cañería de las aguas del Desierto] Medal (1883)

One of the banners of the Porfiriato was public works, and among the most urgent for Mexico City was the water supply. The capital depended on springs and aqueducts, and throughout the 19th century works were undertaken to bring clean water from the nearby mountain ranges to the growing city.

This 1883 bronze medal commemorates a water pipeline related to those efforts of hydraulic conveyance. Inaugurating works of public utility was a common way to celebrate the material progress that Porfirio Díaz's regime wanted to display.

The engraving was the work of C. Ocampo G., one of the artists tied to the production of the Mint. The piece is testimony to how the civil engineering of the era was also commemorated in metal, not only with plaques and monuments.

The "[Cañería de las aguas del Desierto]" medal was struck in 1883. It is made of bronze, measures 38.68 mm in diameter and weighs 35.58 grams, the work of the engraver C. Ocampo G.. In the specialized catalog it is referenced as Grove, Medals of México, II #225b.

As a bronze medal, its value comes not from the metal but from what it commemorates: the event it celebrates, its age (1821-1910 era), and demand among collectors of the subject. Condition and the rarity of the issue are what set the price.

How to identify and value this medal

1. Confirm the metal. It is bronze; its value depends on the theme and the condition.
2. Read the legend and the motif. It commemorates "[Cañería de las aguas del Desierto]," which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. No scratches or harsh cleanings, with a natural patina.
4. Look for the case and the 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.