Porfirio Joaquin Mendez Medal. Birth (1888)

Birth tokens were small medals that well-to-do families had struck to celebrate the baptism or birthday of a child, and they were handed out as keepsakes among guests and close relations. This custom, inherited from the colonial era, was greatly cherished in nineteenth-century Mexico.

This silver piece from 1888 commemorates the birth of Porfirio Joaquín Méndez, and his name suggests the homage to Porfirio Díaz that many families paid when baptizing their children during the Porfiriato.

By its small size, the medal belongs to the category of tokens. These intimate pieces are fascinating windows into the private life of Porfirian families and into the blend of the religious, the festive, and the political that characterized their celebrations.

The Porfirio Joaquín Méndez medal, struck in 1888 to commemorate his birth, is a small silver piece that is part of the rich medallic tradition of 19th-century Mexico. At just 25.45 millimeters in diameter and 6.65 grams in weight, it condenses the commemorative style of the era into an intimate format.

Being made of silver, its value starts from a clear floor: the precious metal content held in those 6.65 grams. From there, what raises it is condition, the short run of the issue, and interest in the figure it honors. A piece with no wear, with a natural patina and kept in its original case, is worth considerably more than one that has been handled or harshly cleaned.

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 birth of Porfirio Joaquín Méndez, which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. Free of scratches or harsh cleaning, with a natural patina.
4. Look for the case and certificate if it came with them: they add collector value.

Explore more pieces in the Mexican numismatics catalog and learn to read the marks in the how to identify Mexican mints guide. For the collector, this medal is cataloged as Grove, Medals of México, II #Pb-53a.