San Miguel el Grande Medal. José María Loreto (1791)
Prices updated: August 2026
Bronze · Proclamation and oath · 1791
Bronze · Proclamation and oath · 1791
How much is the coin San Miguel el Grande Medal. José María Loreto (1791) worth?
The market value of the coin San Miguel el Grande Medal. José María Loreto (1791) is not yet documented with enough data to give a firm range. Weigh and measure your piece, compare it against the specifications, and check the forum for a second opinion.
The real price depends on four factors: the grade of preservation (a circulated piece is worth the low end of the range; an uncirculated one, or one still in its official blister pack, the high end), the finish (satin vs mirror/proof), the rarity within the series based on the mintage, and the metal spot price on the day of the deal when the piece is silver or gold. Check the value-by-grade table above and compare with equivalent pieces before buying or selling.
Where to buy or sell this coin?
Browse the national directory of numismatic shops or the community forum to trade directly with other collectors.
Historical context
This bronze medal from 1791, engraved by Gerónimo Antonio Gil, commemorates the proclamation of Charles IV in San Miguel el Grande, the prosperous town of the Bajío that a century later would become San Miguel de Allende. It carries the associated name of José María Loreto, surely the notable who sponsored the issue.
Although Charles IV took the throne in 1788, the oaths of allegiance stretched across the provinces until 1791 as the celebrations were organized. That a Bajío town commissioned its medal from the chief engraver of the Mint reveals the wealth of this region, granary and commercial corridor of the viceroyalty.
Gil, founder of the Academy of San Carlos, guaranteed the highest artistic quality with his signature. Bronze was reserved for collector or exhibition examples, as opposed to the silver used for the ceremonial distribution. The piece documents the bond between the local elite and the finest engraver of the realm in the ritual of swearing allegiance to the king.
Description
The "San Miguel el Grande. José María Loreto" medal was struck in 1791. It is made of bronze, measures 49.18 mm in diameter and weighs 48.77 grams, minted in Mexico, the work of the engraver Gerónimo Antonio Gil. In the specialized catalog it is referenced as Grove, Medals of México, I #C-204a.
As a bronze medal, its value comes not from the metal but from what it commemorates: the event it celebrates, its age (viceroyalty era), and demand among collectors of the subject. Condition and the rarity of the issue are what set the price.
How to identify and value this medal
- Confirm the metal. It is bronze; its value depends on the theme and the condition.
- Read the legend and the motif. It commemorates "San Miguel el Grande. José María Loreto," which defines its historical interest.
- Check the condition. No scratches or harsh cleanings, with a natural patina.
- 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.
Value range of this piece
Value range without enough data for this piece.
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