Guanajuato Medal. El Marqués de San Juan de Rayas (1790)
Prices updated: August 2026
Silver · Proclamations and oath · 1790
Silver · Proclamations and oath · 1790
How much is the coin Guanajuato Medal. El Marqués de San Juan de Rayas (1790) worth?
The market value of the coin Guanajuato Medal. El Marqués de San Juan de Rayas (1790) 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 1790 medal, engraved by Gerónimo Antonio Gil, commemorates the proclamation of Carlos IV in Guanajuato, one of the great mining centers of the viceroyalty. The issue is linked to the Marqués de San Juan de Rayas, a title tied to one of the city's most powerful mining families, owner of legendary veins.
That a mining aristocrat sponsored the medal, and that it was signed by none other than the chief engraver of the Mint, reveals the enormous economic power of Guanajuato. The silver that came out of its mines, such as the famous Valenciana, sustained much of the empire's finances.
Gil, founder of the Academia de San Carlos, brought the neoclassical style and the highest technical quality. The combination of a mining nobility patron and the finest engraver of the realm makes this one of the most ambitious provincial pieces of the oath to Carlos IV, a mirror of the wealth of the silver-rich Bajío.
Description
The "Guanajuato. El Marqués de San Juan de Rayas" medal was struck in 1790. It is made of silver, measures 46.93 mm in diameter and weighs 49.26 grams, minted in Mexico, the work of engraver Gerónimo Antonio Gil. In the specialized catalog it is referenced as Grove, Medals of México, I #C-78.
Because it is a silver medal, its value has a floor: the precious metal content (49.26 grams). Above that, what drives it up is condition, how short the issue was, and interest in the subject it commemorates (Guanajuato. El Marqués de San Juan de Rayas). 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
- Confirm the metal. It is silver; weigh it to estimate its fine metal content.
- Read the legend and the motif. It commemorates "Guanajuato. El Marqués de San Juan de Rayas," which defines its historical interest.
- Check the condition. No scratches or aggressive cleaning, with natural patina.
- Look for the case and the 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 guide on how to identify Mexican mints.
Value range of this piece
Value range without enough data for this piece.
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