Toluca Medal (1809)

This silver medal of 1809, engraved by Manuel Lopez Lopez, commemorates the proclamation of Fernando VII in Toluca, capital of the valley of the same name west of Mexico City. Although the king was proclaimed in 1808, the oaths of allegiance extended into 1809 in many cities.

New Spain had sworn loyalty to Fernando VII in absentia, recognizing him as the legitimate king against the usurper Jose Bonaparte imposed by Napoleon. Toluca was a city of the high valleys, famed for its cold climate and its markets, a link between the capital and the lands to the west.

That an engraver like Manuel Lopez Lopez signed this Toluca piece shows the activity of the various craftsmen who worked the proclamation medals outside the capital. These 1809 issues bear witness to how the crisis of the Spanish monarchy, the prelude to the Independence that would soon shake the center of the viceroyalty, mobilized the highland cities in homage to the captive king.

The Toluca medal of 1809 is a silver piece that celebrates this city in central Mexico at the start of the 19th century, in the years leading up to Independence. Struck at 33 millimeters in diameter and 18.24 grams, it is the work of the engraver Manuel López López, which makes it an artistic and commemorative testament highly prized by collectors.

Because it is a silver medal, its value starts from a clear floor: the precious metal content of 18.24 grams. Above that, what drives the price up is the condition, how small the issue was, and interest in the subject it commemorates. A piece with no wear, natural patina, and its original case is worth considerably more than one that has been mishandled or aggressively cleaned.

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 Toluca, which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. No scratches or harsh 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 #F-192.