Ciudad de Mexico Medal (1808)

This gilt bronze medal of 1808, engraved by Jose M. Guerrero, commemorates the proclamation of Fernando VII in Mexico City, capital of the viceroyalty. The year was one of extreme crisis: after the abdications of Bayonne imposed by Napoleon, the capital swore fidelity to Fernando VII in absentia, refusing to recognize the intruder Joseph Bonaparte.

In Mexico City, the 1808 oath had an explosive political backdrop: it was the year of the coup against Viceroy Iturrigaray, promoted by the peninsular elite who feared the autonomist tendencies of the criollo city council. The proclamation medals were struck in that climate of tension.

Jose M. Guerrero was one of the engravers active in the capital after the death of Gil. Gilt bronze corresponded to prestige examples. This piece documents the moment when the crisis of the monarchy began to fracture New Spanish society between criollos and peninsulars, the seed of the conflict that would erupt in 1810.

The 1808 Ciudad de México Medal is a commemorative piece struck in the middle of the viceroyalty, when the capital of New Spain was one of the most important centers on the continent. The work of engraver José M. Guerrero, it sums up in gilt bronze the prestige of a city that even then set the historical pulse of the country.

It is made of gilt bronze, measures 37.76 millimeters in diameter and weighs 30.87 grams. Being a medal, its value comes not from the metal but from what it commemorates: the event it celebrates, its viceregal-era age, and demand among collectors of the theme. Condition and the rarity of the issue are ultimately what determine the price.

How to identify and value this medal

1. Confirm the metal. It is gilt bronze; its value depends on the theme and condition.
2. Read the legend and the motif. It commemorates Mexico City, which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. Free of scratches or harsh cleaning, with a natural patina.
4. Look for the case and certificate if it came with them: they add collector value.

Explore more pieces in the Mexican numismatics catalog and learn to read the marks in the how to identify Mexican mints guide. For the collector, this medal is cataloged as Grove, Medals of México, I #F-35a.