ChIapa Medal. 1 Real. Holed (1808)

This small 1808 medal, of the one-real module and pierced to be worn hanging, commemorates the proclamation of Fernando VII in Chiapa, at the far southeast of the viceroyalty. The year was critical because of the Bayonne abdications imposed by Napoleon.

New Spain swore loyalty to Fernando VII in absentia, recognizing him as legitimate king against the usurper Joseph Bonaparte. The piercing is a revealing detail: many of these popular pieces were holed to hang from the neck or the garment, worn as a visible sign of loyalty to the monarch.

The one-real module indicates it was for broad distribution among the people. That the oath reached remote Chiapa, a mountainous region bordering Guatemala, and that its people wore the king's medal hanging, shows how the crisis of the Spanish monarchy mobilized the whole territory, even its most remote reaches, in a single act of loyalty.

The "ChIapa. 1 real. Perforada" medal of 1808 is a small perforated silver piece that keeps the air of the local issues of viceregal Mexico, a discreet object yet loaded with history that today draws the interest of collectors.

Struck in silver, it measures 20.18 millimeters in diameter and weighs 3.26 grams. Because it is a silver piece, its value has a floor set by the precious-metal content; above that, what pushes it higher is condition, how short the issue was, and interest in the theme it commemorates. A piece with no wear, with natural patina and its original case, is worth considerably more than one that has been handled or harshly cleaned.

To identify it, confirm the metal and weigh it to estimate its fine-silver content, read the legend and the motif that define its historical interest, and check that it shows no scratches or cleaning. If it still has its case or certificate, both add collector value. You can 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 #F-41.