Tabasco Medal. Lorenzo Santa María (1790)

Struck in 1790, this medal commemorates the proclamation of Carlos IV in Tabasco, the tropical land of the southeastern reaches of New Spain, and carries the associated name of Lorenzo Santa María, probably the authority or notable who funded the issue. Although the king ascended the throne in 1788, the oath reached the remote provinces during 1789 and 1790.

Tabasco was a region of hot, humid climate, with a sparse population and an economy tied to cacao and river routes. That it struck its own proclamation medal, however modest, shows how the ritual of fidelity to the king reached even the most remote and difficult corners of the viceroyalty.

These proclamation medals sponsored by a local notable were a personal and communal act of loyalty. Distributed during the festivities, they left a record that even far-off Tabasco solemnly recognized the new sovereign of the Spains and the Indies.

The Tabasco. Lorenzo Santa María medal is a silver piece struck in 1790, a testimony of the commemorative art of viceregal Mexico that today draws great interest among collectors for its age and its historical theme.

It is made of silver, measures 28 millimeters in diameter and weighs 6.36 grams. Being of precious metal, its value has a clear floor based on that silver content. Above that, what drives it up is preservation, the short size of the issue, and interest in the theme it commemorates. A piece with no wear and with its original case is worth considerably more than a handled one.

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 Lorenzo Santa María in Tabasco, which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the preservation. No scratches or aggressive cleaning, with natural patina.
4. 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. For the collector, this medal is cataloged as Grove, Medals of México, I #C-230a.