Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. Agustín I Medal (1822)

A small proclamation and oath medal of Quetzaltenango, in present-day Guatemala, dedicated to Agustin I in 1822.

A key fact: during the brief First Mexican Empire, much of Central America joined Iturbide's project. The provinces that today make up Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica were temporarily integrated into the empire, so cities like Quetzaltenango also struck oath medals to the Mexican emperor.

This piece is an uncommon testimony of that ephemeral union. When the empire fell in 1823, Central America separated and followed its own path, but medals like this recall the moment when Mexico and much of the isthmus shared a single sovereign.

The medal of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, dedicated to Agustín I is a silver testament to the brief First Mexican Empire, struck in 1822 at the moment Agustín de Iturbide was proclaimed emperor. Its link to Central America, then joined to the empire, makes it a piece of great historical interest for anyone who collects independent Mexico in its earliest years.

Struck in silver, it is a small and delicate medal: it measures 20.98 millimeters in diameter and weighs 3.38 grams. Because it is silver, its value starts from the precious-metal content, but what really drives it up is condition, the small size of the issue, and interest in the subject it commemorates. A piece with no wear, natural patina, and its original case is worth quite a bit more than one that has been handled or over-cleaned.

To assess it, it helps to confirm the metal by weighing it, read the legend and motif that identify it calmly, check that it has no scratches or aggressive cleaning, and look for the case or certificate if it had them, since they add collector value. In specialized catalogs, this medal is referenced as Grove, Medals of México II #46a. Explore more pieces in the Mexican numismatics catalog and learn to read the marks in the guide on how to identify Mexican mints.