Iturbide Proclamation Medals

Countless medals were struck in honour of Iturbide, some designed by the best artists of the time, such as the engravers Francisco Gordillo and José Guerrero, the sculptor Tresgallo in Guanajuato and Medina in Guadalajara. Simón Arocha did not have any model at hand and so reproduced the bust of Ferdinand VII instrad of Iturbide’s.

Mexico City

Iturbide Grove 5a Iturbide Grove 5a reverse

Grove 5a Silver Proclamation Medal (Stack’s Bowers NYINC auction, 21 January 2020, lot 23200)

Iturbide Grove 5b Iturbide Grove 5b reverse

Grove 5b Bronze Proclamation medal (Stack’s Bowers Auction, November 2023, lot 70292)

Obverse: Crowned eagle perched on cactus; Reverse: legend in seven line

Iturbide Grove 9a Iturbide Grove 9a reverse

Grove 9a Silver Proclamation medal (Stack’s Bowers auction, February 2022, lot 74604)

Obverse: Crowned imperial eagle stands on cactus; Reverse: Five line inscription with wreath around.

Grove 11 Gold Proclamation medal (Stack’s Bowers Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection Auction, 15 April 2005, lot 3254)

Plain edge. Bust of Iturbide in high collar to right, legends around, signature of Guerrero below / crowned eagle atop cactus, legends around, date of proclamation in exergue. Bright yellow gold with a few faint hairlines on both sides.

Grove 11A (Stack’s Bowers Auction, February 2024, lot 73105)

By J. Guerrero. Obverse: Bust right, draped and in military attire; Reverse: Crowned imperial eagle, with wings spread and head right, standing left upon cactus.

Iturbide Grove 11b Iturbide Grove 11b reverse

Grove 11B Bronze Proclamation medal (Stack’s Bowers NYINC Auction, January 2014, lot 1383)

Iturbide Grove 11a brass Iturbide Grove 11a brass reverse

Grove 11a (except in brass) Brass Proclamation medal (Stack’s Bowers Baltimore auction, November 2010, lot 6163)

Uniformed bust of Iturbide right, legend around./Crowned imperial eagle atop cactus, legend around. Date in exergue.

Grove 13 Gold Proclamation medal (Stack’s Bowers Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection Auction, 15 April 2005, lot 3255)

Iturbide Grove 13a Iturbide Grove 13a reverse

Grove 13a Silver Proclamation medal (Stack’s Bowers Auction, 28 February 2024, lot 73106)

Iturbide Grove 13b Iturbide Grove 13b reverse

Grove 13b Bronze Proclamation Medal (Stack’s Bowers auction, 27 February 2020, lot 71230)

By J. Guerrero. Obverse: Crowned eagle, with head right and wings spread, standing left on arrow with banner; Reverse: Oval shield with legend in five lines in script; all within wreath.

Grove 15 Silver Proclamation medal (Stack’s Bowers NYINC Auction, January 2022, lot 2357)

Iturbide Grove 15b Iturbide Grove 15b reverse

Grove 15b Copper Proclamation Medal (Stack’s Bowers Saint Ludovico and Firth of Clyde Collections auction, 22 April 2009, lot 2903)

By F. Gordillo. Conjoined busts of Iturbide and Ana Maria facing right, legend AUGUSTIN Y ANA EN SU FELIZ EXALTACION AL TRONO YMPERIAL DE MEXICO around; Reverse: Radiant eye above crown, sword and sceptre on pillow above tablet five-line inscription.

Grove 17a Silver Proclamation medal (Stack’s Bowers NYINC Auction, 15 January 2022, lot 2354)

By: F. Gordillo. Obverse: Uniformed bust of Iturbide facing right, legend around; Reverse: Six line inscription, shining star above.

Grove 17b (Stack’s Bowers Auction, November 2023, lot 70295)

By F. Gordillo.

Aguascalientes

Iturbide Grove 21a Iturbide Grove 21a reverse

Grove 21a Silver Proclamation medal (Stack’s Bowers Baltimore auction,November 2015, lot 39408)

Sceptre and sword crossed beneath crown; Reverse: Six line inscription.

Chiapas

Iturbide Grove 23a Iturbide Grove 23a reverse

Grove 23a Silver Proclamation medal (Stack’s Bowers NYINC Auction, 18 January 2020, lot 21183)

Bust left, legend around; Reverse: Crowned imperial eagle within crowned central medallion, legend around.

Durango

Iturbide Grove 25a Iturbide Grove 25a reverse

Grove 25a Silver Proclamation medal (Stack’s Bowers Baltimore auction, November 2015, lot 39409)

Arms of Durango; Reverse: Five line inscription within wreath.

Guadalajara

Grove 27a Silver Proclamation medal (Stack’s Bowers Auction, 16 January 2021, lot 22274)

Obverse: Uniformed and draped bust of Iturbide right; Reverse: Emblem of Guadalajara: Two lions rampantes (though resembling hounds or wolves) on either side of tree.

Iturbide Grove 28a Iturbide Grove 28a reverse

Grove 28a Silver Proclamation medal (Stack’s Bowers NYINC auction, January 2018, lot 24367)

A medal of V. Medina F.. Uniformed bust of Iturbide facing right, legend around; Reverse: Inscription in six lines, florals below, all within wreath.

Grove 29a Silver Proclamation medal (Stack’s Bowers NYINC Auction, January 2020, lot 21184)

Iturbide Grove 30a Iturbide Grove 30a reverse

Grove 30a Silver Proclamation medal (Stack’s Bowers ANA auction, August 2016, lot 22717)

By Medina. Uniform bust of Iturbide right; Reverse arms and legend. Somewhat unusual oval shaped medal.

Guanajuato

Iturbide Grove 32a Iturbide Grove 32a reverse

Grove 32a Silver Proclamation medal (Stack’s Bowers Baltimore auction, November 2015, lot 24569)

By Trasgallo. Co-joined busts of Iturbide and Ana Maria, legend around; Reverse: Arms of Guanajuato, with standing figure of faith holding chalice and cross in central design, legend around.

Grove 32B Bronze Proclamation medal (Stack’s Bowers Auction, 14 November 2022, lot 71748)

By Trasgallo. Commemorating the proclaiming of Agustin and Ana Maria as emperor and empress in Guanajuato. Obverse: draped jugate busts facing right; Reverse: coat-of-arms of Guanajuato, engraver's name below.

Oaxaca

Iturbide Grove 39A Iturbide Grove 39A reverse

Grove 39A Silver Proclamation medal (Stack’s Bowers Auction, November 2023, lot 70298)

Obverse: Draped bust of Iturbide right. Reverse; Five line inscription between floral adornments.

Grove 40a Silver Proclamation medal (Stack’s Bowers NYINC Auction, 15 January 2022, lot 2356).

By: F Gordillo. Obverse: Draped bust of Iturbide right; Reverse: Four line inscription with date.

Querétaro

Grove 42a (Stack’s Bowers Chicago ANA Auction, August 2015, lot 31017)

Jugate busts of Iturbide and Ana Maria to the right; Reverse: Queretaro coat of arms, flags and Imperial Eagle, legend around periphery.

Toluca

Iturbide Grove 52a Iturbide Grove 52a reverse

Grove 52a Silver Proclamation medal (Stack’s Bowers NYINC auction, 21 January 2020, lot 23214)

Iturbide Grove 52b Iturbide Grove 52b reverse

Grove 52b Bronze Proclamation Medal (Stack’s Bowers Baltimore auction, November 2015, lot 42572)

Crowned eagle standing on cactus; Reverse: Eight line inscription.

Gutíerrez del Aguila, Zacatecas

Grove 57A (Stack’s Bowers Auction, November 2023, lot 70299)

A rare proclamation issue from the small town of Villa Gutierez del Aguila (now Villanueva) Zacatecas. Obverse: Crossed sword and sceptre below radiant crown; Reverse: Inscription in six lines within wreath.

Zacatecas

Iturbide Grove 59A Iturbide Grove 59A reverse

Grove 59A Silver Proclamation medal (Stack’s Bowers Auction, 14 November 2022, lot 71747)

Obverse: Small eagle on cartouche; crown above, sword and scepter crossed in saltire in background; all within wreath; Reverse: Legend and date in six lines; star above; all within wreath.

Guatemala

These were struck before Guatemala formally broke from Iturbide's empire in July 1823.

Iturbide Grove 34a Iturbide Grove 34a. reverse

Grove 34a Silver Proclamation Medal (Stack’s Bowers NYINC auction, 21 January 2020, lot 23213)

Iturbide Grove 36 mule Iturbide Grove 36 mule reverse

Grove 36/34 Gold Proclamation 1 Escudo (Stack’s Bowers Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection auction, 15 April 2005, lot 3031)

Head of Iturbide to left, AUGUST 1 EMP DE MEXICO around, date below / three volcano peaks in oval frame atop wreath, 26 E DIC / DE 1822 / 2o DE LA / INDEP in three lines within wreath, GUAT EN LA PROCLAM DE SU 1r EMP around. This is a muling of the 1822-dated obverse of Grove-36 with the reverse of Grove-34.