Querétaro Medal (1791)

This medal from 1791, signed by Gerónimo Antonio Gil, commemorates the proclamation of Carlos IV in Querétaro, a strategic city of the Bajío and a crossroads of the routes toward the north. Although the king ascended the throne in 1788, the provincial oaths extended into 1791.

Querétaro was prosperous thanks to its textile workshops, its convents, and its role as a commercial hinge. Decades later it would be the cradle of the independence conspiracy, but in 1791 it paid loyal homage to its sovereign with a medal by the finest engraver of the realm.

That the chief engraver of the Mint signed the piece confirms the standing of the commission. Gil, founder of the Academy of San Carlos, brought the neoclassical style and technical mastery that distinguished his works. His signature transforms a provincial proclamation medal into an example of the academic art he himself was establishing in New Spain.

The Querétaro medal of 1791 is a silver piece struck in viceregal Mexico to commemorate that city, the work of the renowned engraver Gerónimo Antonio Gil. Its age, its theme, and the hand of one of the most important engravers of the era make it an object greatly prized by those who collect Mexican colonial medals.

It is made of silver, measures 44.65 millimeters in diameter and weighs 42.99 grams. Being silver, its value has a floor set by its precious-metal content; above that, what drives it up is preservation, the short size of the issue, and interest in the theme it commemorates. A piece with no wear, natural patina, and its original case is worth considerably more than one that has been handled or aggressively 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 Querétaro, 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. For the collector, this medal is cataloged as Grove, Medals of México, I #C-153.