Porfirio Díaz Medal (1881)
Prices updated: August 2026
Silver · Notable figures · 1881
Silver · Notable figures · 1881
How much is the coin Porfirio Díaz Medal (1881) worth?
The market value of the coin Porfirio Díaz Medal (1881) is not yet documented with enough data to give a firm range. Weigh and measure your piece, compare it against the specifications, and check the forum for a second opinion.
The real price depends on four factors: the grade of preservation (a circulated piece is worth the low end of the range; an uncirculated one, or one still in its official blister pack, the high end), the finish (satin vs mirror/proof), the rarity within the series based on the mintage, and the metal spot price on the day of the deal when the piece is silver or gold. Check the value-by-grade table above and compare with equivalent pieces before buying or selling.
Where to buy or sell this coin?
Browse the national directory of numismatic shops or the community forum to trade directly with other collectors.
Historical context
Silver medal dedicated to Porfirio Díaz in 1881, in homage to the man who would dominate Mexican politics for more than three decades.
Porfirio Díaz (1830-1915), hero of the Battle of April 2, 1867, and of the struggle against the French Intervention, came to power in 1876 and inaugurated the Porfiriato, a long period of stability and modernization under his firm hand. In 1881 the country was governed by Manuel González, in the interregnum between Díaz's two great presidential periods.
This piece pays homage to Díaz when his figure was already central to national life. It documents the beginning of the cult of the caudillo that would characterize the Porfirian regime, in which railroads, industry, and peace were presented as its great achievements, until the Revolution overthrew him in 1911.
Description
The Porfirio Díaz medal of 1881 commemorates the man who marked one of the longest and most controversial periods in Mexican history. Struck in silver, at 34.21 millimeters in diameter and 21.22 grams in weight, it is a piece that appeals both to the collector of historical medals and to those seeking silver with symbolic weight.
Because it is silver, its value has a clear floor in the precious-metal content. Above that, what drives it up is condition, how short the issue was, and interest in the figure it commemorates. A piece with no wear and its original case is worth considerably more than a mishandled one.
How to identify and value this medal
- Confirm the metal. It is silver; weigh it to estimate its fine-metal content.
- Read the legend and the motif. It commemorates Porfirio Díaz, which defines its historical interest.
- Check the condition. No scratches or harsh cleaning, with a natural patina.
- 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, its catalog reference is Grove, Medals of México, II #P-87a.
Value range of this piece
Value range without enough data for this piece.
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