Santiago Papasquiaro Medal (1896)

Santiago Papasquiaro, a town in the state of Durango, is part of the mining and agricultural north of Mexico. Like many provincial localities, it produced commemorative pieces tied to its civic, religious, and commercial life during the 19th century.

This silver medal from 1896 relates to that Durango town, at the height of the Porfiriato. The north of the country was then experiencing development driven by mining, ranching, and the railroad that connected these regions with the rest of the nation.

The piece belongs to the local medallic tradition that documents the identity of Mexican towns and cities. It bears witness to the regional roots that coexisted with the national project of progress, and to the role of the northern localities in Porfirian Mexico.

The Santiago Papasquiaro medal, struck in 1896, is a silver piece that commemorates this town in the state of Durango and forms part of the rich repertoire of 19th-century Mexican medals. Its silver finish and its limited issue make it an object coveted by those who collect commemorative pieces from that era.

Since it is made of silver, its value has a floor set by its precious-metal content: it weighs 10.29 grams and measures 32.3 millimeters in diameter. Above that floor, what drives it up is condition, how short 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 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 the motif. It commemorates Santiago Papasquiaro, which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. No scratches or aggressive cleaning, with natural patina.
4. Look for the case and the certificate if it ever 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, its catalog reference is Grove, Medals of México II #323a.