San Nicolás Actopan Medal (1808)

Struck in 1808, this medal commemorates the proclamation of Fernando VII in San Nicolás Actopan, a town of the present-day state of Hidalgo, in the valleys region north of the capital. The year was critical owing to the Bayonne abdications forced by Napoleon.

New Spain swore fidelity to Fernando VII in absentia, recognizing him as the legitimate king against the usurper Joseph Bonaparte. Actopan was a town of Otomí roots, famous for its imposing 16th-century Augustinian convent, one of the most notable of the New Spanish evangelization.

That a town of modest size like Actopan struck its own proclamation medal reveals just how far the ritual of fidelity to the captive king reached communities of every scale. These 1808 pieces are testimony to how the crisis of the Spanish monarchy, which two years later would unleash Independence, mobilized the whole of New Spain in a single act of loyalty.

The San Nicolás Actopan medal is a silver piece struck in 1808 that commemorates this religious devotion, a testament to New Spain's devotional art that today appeals to collectors for its age and its small issue. At just 27 millimeters in diameter and 6.76 grams, it concentrates much of the historical appeal of the era's medals in a small format.

Because it is a silver medal, its value has a clear floor: the precious-metal content of 6.76 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 and its original case is worth quite a bit more than one that has been handled.

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 motif. It commemorates San Nicolás Actopan, which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. No scratches or aggressive cleaning, with natural patina.
4. Look for the case and 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 piece is cataloged as Grove, Medals of México, I #F-174.