Jesús J. Portugal Medal. Lawyer and Notary

This commercial medal bears the name of Jesús J. Portugal, identified as a lawyer and notary. Many pieces of this type were struck on a personal or professional basis, whether as a keepsake, a badge, or an identity piece for a law office or a notable local figure.

In late nineteenth and early twentieth century Mexico, it was common for professionals, merchants and societies to commission medals bearing their name. These pieces circulated in limited circles and today are useful for tracking figures and activities of the era.

Catalogued by Grove among the commercial issues and worked in silver, it has no recorded year. Its value lies in the personal detail it preserves: the name of a professional and his trade, frozen in metal as part of the small history of Mexican numismatics.

The "Jesús J. Portugal. Abogado y Notario" medal is part of the Mexican numismatic record. It is made of silver, measures 39.8 mm in diameter and weighs 26.27 grams. In the specialized catalog it is referenced as Grove, Medals of México, II #B-188a.

Being a silver medal, its value has a floor: the precious metal content (26.27 grams). Above that, what raises it is condition, the short run of the issue, and interest in the theme it commemorates (Jesús J. Portugal. Abogado y Notario). 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 "Jesús J. Portugal. Abogado y Notario," which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. Free of scratches or harsh cleaning, with a natural patina.
4. Look for the case and 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 how to identify Mexican mints guide.