Sociedad Xicotencatl Auxilios Mutuos Medal (1875)

Silver medal of the Xicotencatl Mutual Aid Society, dated 1875, within the mutualist movement.

The name Xicotencatl evokes the Tlaxcalan warrior who opposed the Spanish conquest, a symbol of resistance proudly adopted by various civic groups of the 19th century. The mutual aid societies brought together artisans and workers who helped one another in the face of illness, accident, or death.

This piece served as an emblem of the members. It documents how Mexican mutualism turned to figures of Indigenous history to give itself identity, in a movement that combined practical solidarity with patriotic symbols. It reflects the associationism of workers in the era of the Restored Republic, a forerunner of the country's labor organizations.

The medal of the Sociedad Xicoténcatl de Auxilios Mutuos, struck in silver in 1875, is a testament to 19th-century Mexican mutualism, when relief societies pooled funds to support their members in illness or death. Pieces like this rarely reached the general public, and today they draw interest from those who collect the social history of Mexico.

At just 26.49 millimeters in diameter and 5.96 grams of silver, its value starts from the precious-metal content and grows with condition, the short run of the issue, and the appeal of the theme it commemorates. A piece with no wear and its original case is worth considerably more than one that has been handled. To value it, it helps to confirm the metal by weighing it, read the legend and the motif carefully, check that it has no scratches or harsh cleanings and keep its natural patina, and hold on to the case and the certificate if it had them.

Its catalog reference is Grove, Medals of México II #202a. You can explore more pieces in the Mexican numismatics catalog and learn to read the marks in the guide on how to identify Mexican mints.