República Mexicana Medal (1886)

The bolos were small commemorative medals or coins that were tossed or handed out among those attending baptisms, celebrations and festive events, a custom of colonial origin deeply rooted in Mexico. Its name comes from the act of "echar bolo" (tossing bolo) to the crowd.

This tiny silver piece of 1886 bears the legend Republica Mexicana, and by its reduced size and weight it corresponds to that category of festive keepsakes of wide popular circulation.

Struck during the Porfiriato, it reflects a tradition where the civic and the festive mingled. The bolos are today curious pieces of Mexican medallic art, testimony to social customs that united the family celebration with the symbols of the nation.

The República Mexicana medal of 1886 is a miniature silver piece that pays tribute to the nation, notable both for its fine striking work and for its reduced dimensions: barely 13.88 millimeters in diameter and 1.35 grams in weight. Its small format makes it a curiosity coveted by collectors of 19th-century Mexico.

Because it is a silver medal, its value has a floor: the precious metal content (1.35 grams). Above that, what drives the price up is the condition, how small the issue was, and interest in the subject it commemorates. A piece with no wear and its original case is worth considerably more than one that has been mishandled.

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 the República Mexicana, 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 #Pb-1a.