Grove-70a (plate example). 41 mm. Uniformed bust of General Guadalupe Victoria right with legend around; Reverse: Republican eagle atop cactus grasping snake in the "Hookneck" position, double legend around. A RARE medal honoring Mexicos first President made even more desirable by the high state of preservation seen here. Guadalupe Victoria had been a general during the Mexican War for Independence and was an active leader of the provisional government immediately following the abdication of Augustin Iturbide as Emperor of Mexico until being elected as President and assuming office in October of 1824. Born as Jose Miguel Ramon Adaucto Fernandez y Felix he chose to use his interesting nomme de guerre after winning a battle on Guadalupe Day. While this story may seem apocryphal the title is clearly contemporary to the time he was in highest power and seems a reasonable explanation for the name. The example offered here is in a stunning state of preservation with no loss or wear to the devices, no knocks or bumps to the rims and only a small handful of light thin points of contact. The surfaces have toned a ruddy medium gray which lightens when the flashing underlying luster catches the light. A superior and highly desirable item missing from most collections of Mexican medals..NGC MS-63.
