San Luis Potosí Medal (1790)

Struck in 1790, this small medal commemorates the proclamation of Carlos IV in San Luis Potosí, an important mining and administrative city of the northern highlands. Although the king ascended the throne in 1788, the oath of allegiance was celebrated in many provinces during 1789 and 1790.

Its reduced size corresponds to the pieces that were thrown to the public during the procession of the royal standard, gathered up by the crowd as a keepsake of the proclamation festivities.

San Luis Potosí owed its prosperity to the silver of its mining districts and to its strategic position on the road toward the northern provinces. As a regional capital, it organized oath ceremonies of some importance. These tiny medals, scarce today because of their popular circulation, are the most tangible trace of how ordinary people took part in the imperial ritual of acknowledging the new king.

The 1790 San Luis Potosí Medal is a silver piece from viceregal Mexico, struck in the final years of Spanish rule and tied to the memory of one of the country's most important mining regions. Its small format, at just 20 millimeters, and its commemorative theme make it a coveted object for those who collect colonial medals.

Being silver, its value has a clear floor: the precious-metal content, at a weight of 3.34 grams. Above that, what drives it up is condition, the small size of the issue, and interest in the subject it commemorates. A piece with no wear, a natural patina, and its original case is worth considerably more than one that has been handled or harshly 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 San Luis Potosí, which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. No scratches or harsh cleaning, with a natural patina.
4. Look for the case and certificate if it once 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-192.