Continuuing the story from 1971 Jose Antonio Navarro - In Congress...The Navarro medals were struck for the benefit of the San Antonio Conservation Society ("Society"), a group of local San Antonio citizens who sought to use net proceeds from medal sales to help preserve physical artifacts of Texas history. The medals were made avilable for sale beginning on February 27, 1971 - the 276th Anniversary of Navarro's birth.
The Society was given the authority to create the medal's designs, select the composition of the medals struck and the set the size of the medals. The Secretary of the Treasury had to approve all Society requests.
Only a fraction of the authorized medals were struck: 1,800 bronze and 200 silver (0.925 fine, Sterling). Sales simply didn't justify additional orders past the initial 2,000 (the minimum order size). All medals were 1-9/16" in diameter.
The medal's obverse presents a three-quarter, right-facing portrait of Navarro. The portrait is flanked by "1795" and "1781" - Navarro's birth and eath years. Navarro was born in San Antonio, Texas on February 27, 1795. He died on January 13, 1871 in San Antonio.
Frank Gasparro was the designer/sculptor of the obverse.
Above Navarro's portrait is seen the inscription "I HAVE SWORN TO BE A FREE TEXAN" - (the rest of the quote reads "I shall not forswear.") Navarro made the famous statement in 1841 while imprisoned by Mexico. It was his response to an offer from the Mexican Government to be set free if he renounced Texas.
The medal's reverse features a depiction of Navarro's home and office in San Antonio. Encircling near the rim is found the inscription: "RESIDENCE AND OFFICE OF THE TEXAS PATRIOT - BUILT CIRCA 1850 - SAN ANTONIO". Below the structure is seen "RESTORED BY / SAN ANTONIO / CONSERVATION / SOCIETY on four lines. The design and sculpt are the work of Edgar Zell Steever. The house/office was one of the Society's preservation projects that preceded the medal.
I have a silver and bronze example of the medal in my collection. I didn't have them available to image, so I present images of the silver medal from PCGS CoinFacts.
1971 Jose Antonio Navarro Silver Medal
Image Credit: PCGS CoinFacts. Fair use, education.)To catch up on the first part of this story, see: 1971 Jose Antonio Navarro - In CongressFor other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, see:
Commems Collection 
Posted 02/23/2026 06:32 am
