Toluca Medal (1822)

A proclamation and oath medal of Toluca for the Empire of Agustin I in 1822, the work of engraver Francisco Gordillo, one of the most active carvers of these commemorative pieces.

After Independence was achieved, Iturbide was crowned emperor and the country's cities celebrated the oath of allegiance with solemn medals. Toluca, capital of the present-day State of Mexico and an obligatory waypoint toward the center of the country, added its own to that wave of municipal pieces.

These oath medals, almost always in silver, circulated among authorities and townspeople during the festivities. They form a fascinating series because they document, city by city, how the short-lived First Empire tried to weave legitimacy across the whole territory.

The Toluca medal of 1822 is a silver piece struck in the first months of independent Mexico, the work of the engraver Francisco Gordillo. Its commemorative theme and small issue make it a piece coveted by those who collect the numismatics of this founding stage of the country.

Struck in silver, it measures 33.78 millimeters in diameter and weighs 11.64 grams. Because it is a precious-metal piece, its value has a floor: the silver content it holds. Above that floor, what drives it up is condition, the limited size of the issue, and historical interest in the subject it commemorates. A piece with no wear and its original case is worth quite a bit more than one that has been handled.

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 motif. It commemorates Toluca, which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. No scratches or aggressive cleaning, with natural patina.
4. Look for the case and 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, II #52a.