Puebla Medal. El Cabildo Eclesiástico (1808)

This bronze medal from 1808, engraved by Francisco Gordillo, commemorates the proclamation of Fernando VII promoted by the Ecclesiastical Chapter of Puebla, that is, the body of canons that governed the Puebla cathedral. In the critical year of 1808, following the abdications of Bayonne, New Spain swore fidelity to Fernando VII in absentia.

The participation of the ecclesiastical chapter recalls that recognizing the king was also a religious act: he was sworn to as sovereign by the grace of God. The Church of New Spain, powerful and wealthy, joined the proclamations with all its liturgical pomp.

Puebla, a great episcopal city, had one of the most influential chapters of the viceroyalty. Its medal, engraved by Gordillo, expressed the clergy's loyalty to the Spanish monarchy at the moment when the Napoleonic invasion was putting the Crown in check. These pieces of 1808 are testimony to the union between ecclesiastical and political power in the face of the imperial crisis.

The "Puebla. El Cabildo Eclesiástico" medal was struck in 1808. It is made of bronze, measures 35 mm in diameter and 22.57 grams, struck in Mexico, the work of the engraver Francisco Gordillo. In the specialized catalog it is referenced as Grove, Medals of México, I #F-122c.

As a bronze medal, its value comes not from the metal but from the commemorative side: the event it celebrates, its age (viceregal period), and demand among collectors of the theme. Preservation and the rarity of the issue are what drive the price.

How to identify and value this medal

1. Confirm the metal. It is bronze; its value depends on the theme and the preservation.
2. Read the legend and the motif. It commemorates "Puebla. El Cabildo Eclesiástico," which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the preservation. 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.