Guanajuato Medal. Cast (1747)

This piece, cast in 1747, celebrates the proclamation of Fernando VI, successor to Felipe V on the Spanish Crown. Upon learning the new monarch's name, each important city of New Spain organized its own oath ceremony, with processions, the parade of the royal standard, and the distribution of medals among civil and ecclesiastical authorities.

It comes from Guanajuato, one of the great mining centers of the viceroyalty. The silver that flowed from its veins was the economic engine of the Hispanic monarchy, so this city's ceremonial loyalty carried special symbolic weight: it was the silver-bearing heart of the Indies swearing fidelity to the king.

Made by casting in a mold, a technique of the provincial workshops without a press, the medal reflects how central power made itself present in every corner of the viceroyalty through these rituals of proclamation.

The "Guanajuato. Fundida" medal is a silver piece struck in 1747, a witness to the mining splendor of one of the richest regions of viceregal Mexico. At just 26 millimeters in diameter and 6.54 grams, it condenses into a small silver disc the memory of Guanajuato at the height of its colonial boom.

Being silver, its value starts from a clear floor: the precious-metal content. From there, what pushes it higher is condition, how short the issue was, and historical interest in what it commemorates. A piece with no wear, with natural patina and its original case, is worth considerably more than one that has been handled or harshly cleaned.

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 "Guanajuato. Fundida," which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. No scratches or harsh cleaning, with natural patina.
4. 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. For the collector, this medal is cataloged as Grove, Medals of México, I #F6-20.