Primer camino de fierro Medal (1855)
Prices updated: August 2026
Bronze · 1855
Bronze · 1855
How much is the coin Primer camino de fierro Medal (1855) worth?
The market value of the coin Primer camino de fierro Medal (1855) 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
Bronze medal for the Primer camino de fierro (First Iron Road), dated 1855, celebrating the beginnings of the railroad in Mexico.
The country's first rail stretch, just over eleven kilometers, connected the port of Veracruz with the town of El Molino and opened in 1850. It was the seed of the great Mexican Railway that, decades later, would link Veracruz with the capital. The arrival of the "iron road" symbolized Mexico's entry into the era of technical progress.
This piece commemorates that milestone of modernization, in a country that was only just beginning to lay track. The railroad would transform commerce, transport, and daily life, and these early medals record the pride stirred by a then-revolutionary technology.
Description
The "Primer camino de fierro" (First Railroad) medal, struck in 1855, commemorates one of the most celebrated moments of nineteenth-century Mexico: the arrival of the railroad, a symbol of the progress and modernity of the era. It is a historical piece much prized among collectors of the subject for what it represents rather than for its metal.
Made of bronze, it measures 46.24 millimeters in diameter and weighs 50.44 grams. Like any bronze medal, its value comes not from the metal but from what it commemorates: the event it celebrates, its age within the 1821-1910 period, and demand among those who collect this type of issue. Condition and rarity are what set the price.
How to identify and value this medal
- Confirm the metal. It is bronze; its value depends on the subject and condition.
- Read the legend and the motif. It commemorates the "Primer camino de fierro," and this defines its historical interest.
- Check the condition. No scratches or harsh cleaning, with a natural patina.
- 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 #97b.
Value range of this piece
Value range without enough data for this piece.
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