Coahuixtla Medal (1880)

Silver medal linked to Coahuixtla, dated 1880. Coahuixtla was an important sugar hacienda in the state of Morelos, a region whose economy revolved around sugarcane.

During the Porfiriato, the great sugar haciendas of Morelos experienced their heyday, with output that made them pillars of the regional economy. These estates were true agro-industrial complexes, and some struck their own pieces tied to their activity or celebrations.

Without a complete documentary record of the exact reason for its issue, this piece is best appreciated as a testament to the prosperous 19th-century sugar industry of Morelos. It reflects the world of the haciendas, whose power and inequality would, decades later, be the seed of Zapatismo and of the Revolution in that region.

The Coahuixtla medal, struck in silver in 1880, is a commemorative piece that has earned the appreciation of Mexican collectors for the specificity of the subject it celebrates and the delicacy of its craftsmanship. At just 27.75 millimeters in diameter and 12.8 grams in weight, it gathers history and precious-metal content into a small space.

Being a silver medal, its value has a clear floor: the fine-metal content of 12.8 grams. Above that, what drives it up is 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 Coahuixtla, which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. No scratches or harsh cleaning, with a natural patina.
4. Look for the case and certificate if it once 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 #211a.