Logia Caridad Medal (1878)

Silver medal of the Logia Caridad, dated 1878 and engraved by S. Navalón, among the Masonic pieces.

Mexican Freemasonry of the 19th century was organized in lodges that adopted names alluding to their values, such as charity, truth, or fraternity. These societies had great influence on the country's politics and grouped much of the liberal elite throughout the century.

This piece served as an emblem and identification for the members of the lodge. It documents the role of Freemasonry as a network of sociability and power in 19th-century Mexico. Its careful craftsmanship, the work of one of the most active engravers of the era, reflects the importance the lodges placed on their symbology and on the objects that reinforced their members' sense of belonging.

The Logia Caridad medal, struck in 1878, is a Mexican Masonic piece worked in silver that commemorates one of the country's lodges. Its carefully engraved design, the work of S. Navalón G., and its commemorative character make it an object coveted both by numismatic collectors and by those interested in the history of 19th-century societies.

Struck in silver, it measures 32.78 millimeters in diameter and weighs 24.94 grams. Being a precious-metal piece, its value has a floor set by the silver content, but above that what pushes it higher is condition, the small size of the issue, and interest in the subject it commemorates. A medal 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 the Logia Caridad, which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. No scratches or harsh cleanings, 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, II #M-133a.