Círculo Francés de México Medal (1890)

French influence profoundly shaped the culture of the Mexican elite during the Porfiriato. Fashion, architecture, cuisine, and artistic taste all looked toward Paris, and the French colony living in Mexico was large and influential in commerce and finance.

This silver medal of 1890 belongs to the Círculo Francés de México, one of the social clubs that brought together that foreign community and the Frenchified Mexicans. These circles were spaces for socializing, business, and cultural life.

The piece is a testament to the cosmopolitanism of Porfirian society and to the weight of French culture in that Mexico that dreamed of being European. The medallic art of clubs and associations documents that elite world of the late nineteenth century.

The Círculo Francés de México medal, struck in 1890, is a testament to the presence and social life of the French community in the Mexico of the Porfiriato. Crafted in silver, at 38.22 millimeters in diameter and 20.83 grams in weight, it commemorates the Círculo Francés de México, an association that brought together the French residents in the country during that era.

Being a silver piece, its value starts from a clear floor: the precious metal content that its 20.83 grams add up to. Above that, what drives it up is its condition, the small size of the issue, and interest in the subject it commemorates. A piece with no wear and its original case is worth considerably more than one that has been handled.

How to identify and value this medal

1. Confirm the metal. It is silver; weigh it to estimate its fine metal content.
2. Read the legend and the motif. It commemorates the Círculo Francés de México, which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. No scratches or aggressive 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. For the collector, this medal is cataloged as Grove, Medals of México II #259a.