Niños de Taxco Medal (1822)

Small silver medal linked to Taxco and dated 1822, the year the Empire of Agustín de Iturbide was proclaimed. Taxco, famous for its silver mines in present-day Guerrero, was for centuries one of the country's great silver-bearing centers.

The year 1822 marked the birth of the brief First Mexican Empire, when Iturbide was crowned emperor after Independence was consummated. In that context, mining towns and their communities struck commemorative pieces of reduced module.

Without a complete documentary record of the exact event it celebrates, this medal is best appreciated as a memento of that early independent Mexico, when Taxco was still synonymous with silver and local ceremonies left their mark on the metal.

The "Niños de Taxco" (Children of Taxco) medal is a small silver piece struck in 1822 that commemorates the Niños de Taxco, a motif that makes it especially attractive to those who collect early Mexican medals. At just 21.09 millimeters in diameter and 3.59 grams in weight, it is modest in size but rich in historical value.

Being silver, its value starts from a floor: the precious-metal content of its 3.59 grams. Above that, what drives it up is condition, the small size of the issue, and interest in the subject it commemorates. 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 the Niños de Taxco, which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. No scratches or harsh cleaning, with a natural patina.
4. Look for the case and certificate if it once 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 #50a.