Sociedad de San Vicente de Paul Medal (1895)

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul was one of the most important Catholic charitable organizations in the world, dedicated to relieving the poor through home visits and direct aid. In Mexico it had a broad presence during the nineteenth century.

This 1895 bronze medal commemorates that charitable society. Despite the Reform Laws that separated Church and State, religious charity remained essential in aid to the needy during the Porfiriato, when the State had not yet taken on those social functions.

The piece belongs to the medals of charity and of Catholic associations. It is testimony to the role that organized faith continued to play in the relief of the destitute in the liberal Mexico of the late nineteenth century.

The Sociedad de San Vicente de Paul Medal, struck in 1895, is a commemorative piece that recalls the work of one of the most active charitable associations in 19th-century Mexico. Its interest lies not in the metal but in the history it evokes and in demand among collectors of the religious and social themes of the Porfiriato.

It is made of bronze, measures 34.32 millimeters in diameter and weighs 21.5 grams. Being a medal and not a circulating coin, its price is ruled by condition, the rarity of the issue, and the appeal of the event it celebrates. A piece with a natural patina, free of scratches or harsh cleaning, and that retains its original case or certificate, always achieves a better valuation.

How to identify and value this medal

1. Confirm the metal. It is bronze; its value depends on the theme and condition.
2. Read the legend and the motif. It commemorates the Sociedad de San Vicente de Paul, which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. Free of scratches or harsh cleaning, with a natural patina.
4. Look for the case and certificate if it came with them: they add collector value.

For the collector, this piece is cataloged as Grove, Medals of México, II #311b. Explore more pieces in the Mexican numismatics catalog and learn to read the marks in the how to identify Mexican mints guide.