Puebla Medal (1791)

This bronze medal of 1791, engraved by Geronimo Antonio Gil, commemorates the proclamation of Charles IV in Puebla de los Angeles, the second city of the viceroyalty. Although the king ascended the throne in 1788, the oaths extended through the provinces until 1791.

Puebla was a rich and populous city, famous for its convents, its talavera, and its textile production. As a great urban center, it organized oath ceremonies of considerable pomp, and commissioned the kingdom's foremost engraver to make the medal that would record its loyalty.

Gil, chief engraver of the Mint and founder of the Academy of San Carlos, brought the neoclassical stamp and the technical quality of the best European houses. The bronze corresponded to the collection or exhibition examples. This piece confirms Puebla's weight within the hierarchy of New Spanish cities that competed in splendor during the royal oaths.

The Puebla Medal of 1791 is a commemorative piece from the viceroyalty, struck in bronze and modeled by one of the great engravers of New Spain, Gerónimo Antonio Gil. Its interest lies not in the metal, but in what it celebrates and in its age of more than two centuries, which makes it highly prized among collectors of historical Mexican medals.

It measures 47.84 millimeters in diameter and weighs 46 grams. Being bronze, its value depends above all on the commemorative theme, the rarity of the issue and the state of condition. A piece with natural patina, without scratches or aggressive cleaning, and accompanied by its original case or certificate, always reaches the best price.

How to identify and value this medal

1. Confirm the metal. It is bronze; its value depends on the theme and condition.
2. Read the legend and the motif. It commemorates "Puebla" and 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 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, I #C-122b.