Tlaxcala Medal. 100th Anniversary (1957)

This bronze medal commemorates the 100th anniversary of Tlaxcala in 1957. Tlaxcala, the smallest state in the country, has an extremely long history, as its pre-Hispanic lordship was a key ally of Hernán Cortés during the conquest of Tenochtitlan.

The centennial referred to here is tied to milestones of 19th-century Tlaxcala, within the framework of the political organization of independent Mexico and the reforms of that century. State commemorations of this kind reinforced regional identity within the federation.

Designed with the initials D. P. and cataloged by Grove as 706b, the piece belongs to the commemorative medals of states and cities, a category that documents local anniversaries. This type of striking was usually commissioned from medal-making workshops or from the Mexican Mint.

The Tlaxcala. 100 Aniversario medal, struck in 1957, commemorates the first century of a key date for this central Mexican state and is a piece prized among those who collect Mexican commemorative medals. It is engraved by D. P. and worked in bronze, a material whose charm lies not in the metal itself but in what it celebrates.

At 40.58 millimeters in diameter and 20.68 grams, it has the bearing of a table medal made to last. Its value depends not on the price of the metal but on the historical interest of the event it recalls, its age, and demand among collectors of the subject. Condition and the rarity of the issue are what truly set the price.

How to identify and value this medal

1. Confirm the metal. It is bronze; its value depends on the subject and condition.
2. Read the legend and the motif. It commemorates the centennial of Tlaxcala, which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. No scratches or harsh cleaning, with a natural patina.
4. Look for the case and certificate if it once 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 piece is cataloged as Grove, Medals of México, II #706b.