Pátzcuaro Medal (1808)

This bronze medal of 1808 commemorates the proclamation of Fernando VII in Pátzcuaro, the lovely lakeside town of Michoacán, former Tarascan capital and center of Vasco de Quiroga's evangelizing work in the 16th century. The year was one of deep crisis owing to the Bayonne abdications imposed by Napoleon.

New Spain swore fidelity to Fernando VII in absentia, recognizing him as the legitimate king against the usurper Joseph Bonaparte. The 1808 proclamations were an act of loyalty charged with tension, in an empire whose monarch was held captive in France.

Pátzcuaro, in the heart of Michoacán, lay in a region that would very soon become a stage of the insurgency. These 1808 medals bear witness to the instant before the outbreak: New Spanish communities swearing to their imprisoned king without suspecting that the very orphanhood of royal power would unleash, two years later, the war for Independence.

The Pátzcuaro medal of 1808 is a commemorative piece from the viceregal period that evokes one of the most endearing corners of Michoacán. Struck in bronze, it captures the taste for the ceremonial of the late New Spain era and appeals to those who collect historic Mexican medals.

Because it is bronze, its value does not come from the metal but from what it represents: the event it celebrates, its age, and demand among collectors of the subject. Condition and the rarity of the issue are what set the price. It measures 28 millimeters in diameter and weighs 9.63 grams.

How to identify and value this medal

1. Confirm the metal. It is bronze; its value depends on the subject and condition.
2. Read the legend and motif. It commemorates Pátzcuaro, which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. No scratches or aggressive cleaning, with natural patina.
4. Look for the case and 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 piece is cataloged as Grove, Medals of México, I #F-115a.