Ciudad de México Medal. Academia de San Carlos (1789)
Prices updated: August 2026
Silver · 1789
Silver · 1789
How much is the coin Ciudad de México Medal. Academia de San Carlos (1789) worth?
The market value of the coin Ciudad de México Medal. Academia de San Carlos (1789) is not yet documented with enough data to give a firm range. Weigh and measure your piece, compare it against the specifications, and check the forum for a second opinion.
The real price depends on four factors: the grade of preservation (a circulated piece is worth the low end of the range; an uncirculated one, or one still in its official blister pack, the high end), the finish (satin vs mirror/proof), the rarity within the series based on the mintage, and the metal spot price on the day of the deal when the piece is silver or gold. Check the value-by-grade table above and compare with equivalent pieces before buying or selling.
Where to buy or sell this coin?
Browse the national directory of numismatic shops or the community forum to trade directly with other collectors.
Historical context
This large medal of 1789, engraved by Gerónimo Antonio Gil, commemorates the Academia de San Carlos, the fine arts institution that Gil himself had founded and which he directed in Mexico City. Approved by Carlos III in 1783, the academy was the first art school in the Americas inspired by the European model of San Fernando in Madrid.
With a diameter of nearly seven centimeters and a notable weight, it is a monumental piece, quite different from the popular town medals. Its format matched the prestige of the institution it celebrated: here there was no oath to a king, but rather an exaltation of art and teaching.
It is an especially significant work because it unites the creator and his creation: Gil, the artificer who brought neoclassicism to Mexico, engraving the medal of the academy that trained generations of Mexican artists. It documents the birth of formal artistic education in the country.
Description
The "Ciudad de México. Academia de San Carlos" medal was struck in 1789. It is made of silver, measures 67 mm in diameter and 101.85 grams, struck in Mexico, the work of the engraver Gerónimo Antonio Gil. In the specialized catalog it is referenced as Grove, Medals of México, I #K-84a.
Being a silver medal, its value has a floor: the precious-metal content (101.85 grams). Above that, what drives it up is preservation, the short size of the issue, and interest in the theme it commemorates (Ciudad de México. Academia de San Carlos). A piece with no wear and with its original case is worth considerably more than a handled one.
How to identify and value this medal
- Confirm the metal. It is silver; weigh it to estimate its fine metal content.
- Read the legend and the motif. It commemorates "Ciudad de México. Academia de San Carlos," which defines its historical interest.
- Check the preservation. No scratches or aggressive cleaning, with natural patina.
- 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.
Value range of this piece
Value range without enough data for this piece.
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