The Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor

by Pablo Luna Herrera

In our contemporary society it is common for the Federal Government as well as the State to grant merit, application or seniority medals, among others, to those individuals who stand out in a specific area, such as arts, science, literature, education or sports. Few, however, are those which reward a generality of values and attitudes in favor of all Mexicans: an example is the Orden Mexicana del Aguila Azteca (Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle), being the highest distinction granted to foreigners by the Government of Mexico for services to the nation, encompassing a generality of issues.

Another award will be the Medalla de Honor Belisario Domínguez, (Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor), which highlights civic values in a culture of belonging, solidarity and loyalty to the homeland. This theme will be addressed in the following article.

A life in political instability: Belisario Domínguez Palencia.

Belisario Domínguez was born on 25 April 1863 in Comitán, Chiapas (then Comitán de las Flores, nowadays Comitán de Domínguez) and grew up and worked in the middle of a country convulsed first by the struggle of the liberals and conservatives, then by the re-electionist struggles, which bookended the presidency of Porfirio Díaz. He enjoyed a privileged and comfortable upbringing, in a family of liberal and anticlerical belief, with nine brothers and eight halfbrothers.

After basic studies in his home town, from 1879 to 1889 Belisario migrated to France, where he would study medicine at the University of the Sorbonne. There he learned about the currents of modernist liberal thought in full swing, such as the positivists and the utopian socialists, and decided to guide his life by the precepts of rationality and scientific knowledge rather than belief in religion. During his stay abroad he could also appreciate the differences in European and Mexican reality, the lack and restriction of existing rights, all that would explain the turn he gradually took from his profession to enter politics.

Back in Mexico, he returned to his beloved Comitán, where he began his journey as a social reformer by opening a clinic and pharmacy that operated for free for poor people, always with the doors open, called “La Fraternidad”. In Europe he had observed the power of a press critical of the government and this led him to found his own newspaper, “El Vate”, in February 1904. He also set up a Club Democrático and in 1909 was elected Municipal President for the Liberal Party. At the time of the presidential succession in 1911, Chiapas’s political perspective worsened: between 1910 and 1911 there were eleven governors. The Liberal Party invited Belisario to run for the Senate in the elections in 1912. Belisario declined, because he wanted to remain with a family life, but agreed to be a substitute of the official candidate, his friend Leopoldo Gout, who won. On 19 February 1913 Victoriano Huerta took power after the decena trágica. On 3 March Senator Gout died due to an unexpected stroke, so Belisario Domínguez found himself forced to take up office, which he held until the day of his death on 7 October 1913.

His participation against Huerta’s usurpation was notable. He claimed Mexico was an arbitrary state, devoid of legality, political future and the rule of law and from the beginning he was opposed to any project that arrives at the Congress from the National Palace. His energetic speeches lead him to being denied the rostrum, so he used clandestinely printed material to defend his position. Probably the crucial moment of his life as a congressman came on 23 September when he delivered the following speech, to which the loss of his life weeks later is attributed.

… The truth is this: during the government of Don Victoriano Huerta, not only has nothing been done for the peace of the country, but the current situation of the Republic is infinitely worse than before: the Revolution has spread to almost all the states; many nations, formerly good friends of Mexico, refuse to recognize her government, as illegal; our currency is depreciated abroad; our credit in agony; the press of the Republic gagged, or cowardly sold to the government and systematically hiding the truth - our abandoned fi elds, many people devastated and, finally, hunger and misery in all its forms, threaten to spread rapidly across the surface of our unfortunate homeland. Why this sad situation? First, and first of all, because the Mexican people cannot resign themselves to having Don Victoriano Huerta as President of the Republic, the soldier who seized power through treason and whose fi rst act when he became president was cowardly to assassinate the president and vice president legally anointed by the popular vote […]

… The national representation must depose Don Victoriano Huerta from the presidency of the Republic for being the one against whom all our brothers raised in arms protest and, consequently, for being the one who least can carry out the pacification, the supreme yearning for all Mexicans. You will tell me, gentlemen, that the attempt is dangerous because Don Victoriano Huerta is a bloodthirsty and fi erce soldier, who murders without hesitation or scruple all those who serve as an obstacle. It does not matter, gentlemen! The country demands that you do your duty, even with the danger and even with the security of losing your existence […]

On midnight on 7 October 1913 Belisario was abducted from the Hotel Jardín where he was staying, taken to the Pantheon of Xoco and shot. Several accounts allege that he was physically tortured just before he died. A few days later the Senate authorized an exhaustive investigation into this matter. Huerta’s Council of Ministers requested its withdrawal. When the Senate refused, the Permanent Deputation was forcibly dissolved and 110 congressmen imprisoned.

Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor, full assembly, 2000-2006 legislature

The road to historical immortality

It was on 28 January 1953, during the six-year term of President Adolfo Ruiz Cortines, that the decree that creates the Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor of the Senate of the Republic was published in the Federal Official Gazette. Previously Belisario had been declared “Benemérito de la Patria” in 1917, in 1921 his name was inscribed in gold letters in the Wall of Honor of the Plenary Hall of the Chamber of Deputies, and in 1930 7 October of each year had been declared as a day of national mourning, with flags flown at half mast.

In order to understand the main characteristics of this award, it is worth transcribing part of the short text of the decree:

FIRST ARTICLE. - Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor of the Senate of the Republic is created to reward Mexican men and women who have distinguished themselves by their science or virtue in eminent degree, as servants of our country or of Humanity.
SECOND ARTICLE .- The Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor of the Senate of the Republic, will consist of a Diploma and a gold medal, to be attached to the neck by a silk ribbon in the national tricolor, the National Shield, with the inscription “Estados Unidos Mexicanos, H. Cámara de Senadores 1952-1958” (“United Mexican States, Honorable Chamber of Senators 1952-1958”). They will appear on the obverse and the bust of the Civil Hero Belisario Domínguez together with the inscription “Ennobleció a la Patria, 7 de octubre de 1913” (“Ennobled the Fatherland, 7 October 1913”) will be engraved on the back.
[...]
FOURTH ARTICLE. - The medals and the respective Diplomas will be imposed and awarded in the Solemn Session that on 7 October of each year the Chamber of Senators celebrates to commemorate the sacrifice of the martyr of democracy Dr. Don Belisario Domínguez.

The Regulation for the Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on 12 December of the same year.

Numismatically only the second article stands out, in that the manufacture of the medal would be in gold; however, mention of the metal composition (fineness) of the medal, diameter, weight, manufacturer, etc. are omitted.

The medal has been awarded continuously since 1954.

The numismatics

Both the decree of creation and the subsequent regulation mention the composition of the medal, however, they leave to the discretion of the engraver details that may vary according to the year of issue, such as order, position of legends and typography.

Bronze test, Medal of Honor Belisario Domínguez, legislature 1982 - 1988

For decades, the medal was designed by Lorenzo Rafael, who until 2009 was a partner of the company Laurentius, S.A de C.V. where the decoration has been minted until 2018. Precisely because of Lorenzo’s departure from Laurentius, the letters “LR” were removed from the die, without changing anything essential in the design. The decoration has never been coined in Fidias Arte (Lorenzo Rafael’s workshops). Perhaps from this year or next, the above is possible, because Laurentius closed its doors in 2019.

Every six years - with the change of legislature in the Senate - the design could be modified, to avoid an increase in costs every year. Additionally, the engraver could modify some elements of the medal, for example in the beginning the piece was held by a clasp, which was detached from the silk ribbon, today a clasp in the shape of a garland that decorates the medal was added. The main change can be found on the reverse. As the National Shield used by each legislature in the Senate of the Republic changes, the decorative elements vary in each six year period.

It should be stressed that in terms of dimensions these have not been modified, the medal is 0.900 gold, 0.100 copper, (21 carats), with a diameter of 46 millimeters and a weight of 63 grams. The edge is smooth.

Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor, legislature 2012 – 2018

In addition, the existence of proofs (for now in bronze) has been confirmed, probably to corroborate and test the modifications that could have been made to the dies before using the precious metal flange. Although the amount of coinage is one piece per year, (no examples are included in the Numismatic Collection of the Banco de México), it is known that sometimes two or three more pieces are requested, being kept by the Senate for delivery in subsequent years.

As regards the cost of elaboration, the manufacturer describes the minting project as “Gold Medal, ley 0.900, 21 carats, 46 mm in diameter with clasp, [re handle] and gold garlands, tricolor ribbon and case silk satin case”, over the years the production price has fluctuated as follows (figures in US dollars, exchange rate adjusted per year):

Bronze test, Medal of Honor Belisario Domínguez, legislature 1982 - 1988.

This “Belisario Domínguez Award” shares the same objective as the Medal of Honor, in the local sphere.

Belisario Domínguez Award, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas

In conclusion, it is definitely relevant to exalt and remember those human beings who dedicated their entire lives to public service. This award reflects the life plan of Senator Belisario Domínguez by keeping alive and current the beautiful example of heroism and love of one’s Homeland.