Guadalajara Medal (1888)

Guadalajara, capital of Jalisco, was in the 19th century one of the most important cities in Mexico, a commercial, religious, and cultural center of the country's west. Its civic life generated numerous commemorative pieces tied to local institutions, festivals, and societies.

This 1888 bronze medal was struck during the Porfiriato, an era when Guadalajara experienced notable growth thanks to the railroad and the modernization driven by the government of Porfirio Díaz.

Local medal pieces like this one document the identity of Mexican cities and their participation in the nation's civic life. They are testimony of the regional pride that coexisted with the national project of progress of the late 19th century.

The 1888 Guadalajara medal is a bronze commemorative piece that celebrates the city of Guadalajara during the expansion era of independent Mexico. Struck in a compact format, it is among the historical medals most valued by those who collect 19th-century regional pieces.

As a bronze medal, its value depends not on the metal but on what it commemorates, on its age within the 1821-1910 period, and on demand among collectors of the subject. It measures 25.59 millimeters in diameter and weighs 9.51 grams. Condition and the rarity of the issue are what determine its price: buyers want it with no scratches or harsh cleaning, its natural patina intact, and if it retains its original case or certificate it adds 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 #249b.