Puebla Medal. Círculo Católico (1895)

The Catholic circles were associations of laypeople who, at the end of the 19th century, sought to organize the faithful around faith, charity and the defense of religious values against the advance of liberalism. Puebla, a deeply Catholic city, had several of these circles.

This small bronze medal of 1895 corresponds to the Catholic Circle of Puebla. During the Porfiriato, the pragmatic coexistence between Church and State allowed these organizations to flourish and take part in social and charitable life.

The piece belongs to the medallic art of religious associations. It is testimony to the renewed Catholic activism that was taking shape in Mexico at the end of the 19th century, foreshadowing the social Catholicism that would mark the following decades in the country's life.

The Puebla. Círculo Católico medal, struck in 1895, is a small testament to Puebla's Catholicism during the Porfiriato, a bronze piece that commemorates the activity of this religious association in the city of Puebla. Its charm lies not in the metal but in the history it carries and the interest it sparks among collectors of the subject.

As a bronze medal, its value comes from its commemorative nature: the event it celebrates, its age within the 1821-1910 era, and demand among those who collect Mexican religious pieces. Condition and the rarity of the issue are what set the price. It is a modest piece, 21.37 millimeters in diameter and 4.51 grams, easy to display and to keep.

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. It commemorates Puebla. Círculo Católico, which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. No scratches or harsh 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, II #309b.