Tehuacán, Puebla Medal (1960)

This brass medal commemorates Tehuacán, Puebla, a city in the southeast of Puebla famous for its mineral water springs and for its long history, which goes back to pre-Hispanic settlements of great antiquity in the valley that bears its name.

The Tehuacán Valley is one of the sites where archaeology has documented the origins of maize domestication in Mesoamerica, which gives it enormous weight in the country's history. In modern times, the city became famous for its bottled waters.

Designed with the initials D. H. X. and cataloged by Grove as 770b, the piece belongs to the commemorative medals of cities and localities. These strikes were commissioned from medal-making workshops that left testimony of the identity and history of Mexican towns.

The Tehuacán, Puebla medal, struck in 1960, is a commemorative piece that celebrates this Puebla city and draws the interest of collectors of Mexican regional themes. Made of brass, it measures 40.05 millimeters in diameter, weighs 31.51 grams, and came from the hand of engraver D. H. X.

As a brass medal, its value comes not from the metal but from its commemorative character: the event it celebrates, its age, and demand among those who collect pieces of this theme. Condition and the rarity of the issue are what set the price.

How to identify and value this medal

1. Confirm the metal. It is brass; its value depends on the theme and condition.
2. Read the legend and the motif. It commemorates "Tehuacán, Puebla," 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, this medal is cataloged as Grove, Medals of México, II #770b.