🏅 Beginner's Guide to Fiesta Medal Collecting

What Are Fiesta Medals?

Fiesta medals are collectible medallions created by organizations, businesses, and individuals to celebrate Fiesta San Antonio, an annual 11-day celebration held in April. The tradition dates back to the 1960s and has grown into a beloved part of San Antonio culture.

Each year, hundreds of unique medals are produced, featuring creative designs that range from humorous to artistic to promotional. They typically hang from colorful ribbons and are worn around the neck during Fiesta events.

Types of Fiesta Medals

• Official Medals: Created by the Fiesta San Antonio Commission and official Fiesta events
• Organizational Medals: Made by businesses, restaurants, nonprofits, and clubs
• Royal Court Medals: Created by Fiesta royalty organizations like the Order of the Alamo
• Military Medals: Produced by San Antonio's many military installations
• Personal/Custom Medals: Designed by individuals or families for fun

Getting Started

Starting a Fiesta medal collection is easy and doesn't require a big investment. Here's how to begin:

1. Attend Fiesta Events

The best way to start collecting is to attend Fiesta events. Many organizations give away medals for free, while others sell them to raise funds for charitable causes. Popular events for medal hunting include:

• A Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA)
• Fiesta Flambeau Parade
• Battle of Flowers Parade
• Oyster Bake
• Taste of New Orleans
• Various Fiesta-themed parties and events

2. Set a Budget

While many medals are free or under $10, some limited-edition or popular medals can cost $15-30 or more. Decide what you're comfortable spending before you start, and don't feel pressured to buy every medal you see.

3. Bring Trading Stock

One of the best ways to grow your collection is through trading. Buy a few inexpensive medals or save duplicates to trade with other collectors. Having something to trade opens up many more opportunities than just buying.

Where to Find Medals

During Fiesta

• Official Fiesta Events: Parades, NIOSA, and other sanctioned events
• Restaurants & Bars: Many local establishments create their own medals
• Hotels: Several downtown hotels produce commemorative medals
• Local Businesses: Banks, car dealerships, and shops often have medals
• Churches & Nonprofits: Many create medals to raise funds
• Medal Trading Events: Organized meetups specifically for collectors

Year-Round

• Online Marketplaces: eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and collector groups
• Antique Stores: Sometimes have vintage Fiesta medals
• Estate Sales: Can be a source of older, harder-to-find medals
• Collector Meetups: Some groups meet year-round to trade

Trading Tips

Trading is at the heart of Fiesta medal collecting. It's not just about acquiring medals—it's about the social experience and community connections.

Trading Basics

• Start with a smile: Introduce yourself and ask if they'd like to trade
• Show what you have: Display your tradeable medals openly
• Be flexible: Not every trade will be perfectly equal—that's okay
• Respect "Not For Trade" (NFT): If someone says a medal isn't for trade, accept it graciously
• Thank everyone: Even if you don't make a trade, be polite

Trading Etiquette

Building Your Collection

There are many approaches to building a Fiesta medal collection. Here are some popular strategies:

Collection Themes

• Year Collections: Collect every medal from a specific year
• Organization Focus: Focus on medals from a favorite restaurant, military base, or organization
• Design Themes: Collect medals featuring animals, food, sports teams, etc.
• Vintage Collecting: Focus on older, harder-to-find medals
• Limited Editions: Seek out numbered or special release medals

Tracking Your Collection

As your collection grows, it becomes important to track what you have. You can:

• Use a spreadsheet to log medals, years, and sources
• Take photos and create a digital catalog
• Use our site to mark medals as "Have," "Want," or "Not For Trade"
• Join online collector groups to share and compare

Storage & Display

Proper storage helps preserve your medals for years to come. Here are some popular options:

Storage Options

• Shadow Boxes: Great for displaying favorite medals on a wall
• Medal Display Boards: Cork boards or fabric-covered boards with hooks
• Storage Bins: Plastic bins with dividers for bulk storage
• Binders with Sleeves: Similar to coin collecting supplies
• Hanging Displays: Decorative hangers that showcase medals

Preservation Tips

• Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight
• Avoid humid environments that can cause tarnishing
• Handle medals by the edges or ribbon, not the face
• Don't clean metal medals with harsh chemicals
• Keep special or vintage medals in protective sleeves

Collector Etiquette

Being part of the Fiesta medal collecting community means following some unwritten rules that keep the hobby enjoyable for everyone:

• Be respectful: Treat fellow collectors as you'd want to be treated
• Support organizations: When you can, buy medals to support the causes behind them
• Share knowledge: Help newcomers learn about the hobby
• Don't resell for excessive profit: It's generally frowned upon to flip medals at huge markups
• Celebrate diversity: The community includes collectors of all ages and backgrounds
• Have fun: Remember, it's supposed to be enjoyable!

Common Terms

Here are some terms you'll encounter in the Fiesta medal collecting community: