Porfirio Díaz Medal. Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes (1891)

The National School of Fine Arts, successor to the Academy of San Carlos, was during the Porfiriato the great center of artistic training in Mexico. From its halls came painters, sculptors and engravers, many of whom worked on official medal-making itself.

This 1891 bronze medal bears the effigy of Porfirio Díaz, patron and protector of cultural institutions, whose image the academies reproduced as a sign of allegiance to the regime.

Engraved by C. Ocampo G., an artist linked to the Mexican Mint, the piece belongs to the medals of figures. Its careful execution reflects the school's high technical level and the close bond between academic art and political power during Díaz's long rule.

The "Porfirio Díaz. Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes" medal was struck in 1891. It is made of bronze, measures 38.74 mm in diameter and weighs 22.01 grams, the work of the engraver C. Ocampo G.. In the specialized catalog it is referenced as Grove, Medals of México, II #P-101b.

As a bronze medal, its value does not come from the metal but from what it commemorates: the event it celebrates, its age (1821-1910 era), and demand among collectors of the subject. Condition and the rarity of the issue are what govern the price.

How to identify and value this medal

1. Confirm the metal. It is bronze; its value depends on the subject and the condition.
2. Read the legend and the motif. Commemorating "Porfirio Díaz. Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes" defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. No scratches or aggressive cleaning, with natural patina.
4. Look for the case and the certificate if it ever 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.