20th Anniversary Centro de Investigaciones Antropológicas Medal (1973)

This gold medal commemorates the 20th anniversary of a Centro de Investigaciones Antropológicas in 1973. Mexican anthropology has had a remarkable development, tied to the study of pre-Hispanic cultures and the country's enormous ethnic diversity.

Mexico is a world power in archaeology and anthropology, with institutions that study everything from the great Mesoamerican civilizations to contemporary Indigenous peoples. The research centers in this field trained generations of specialists and supported the great discoveries of the 20th century.

With a center founded around 1953, this gold piece celebrates two decades of academic work. The anniversary medals of scientific institutions document the development of knowledge in the country. The striking of these commemorative issues fell to the Mexico City Mint or to medal workshops in the capital.

What it shows

The obverse carries the legend CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIONES ANTROPOLOGICAS DE MÉXICO engraved along the rim, with the dates 1953 · 1973 at the bottom and, at the center, a Maya-style relief: a face in profile accompanied by glyphs in relief. The reverse repeats that pre-Hispanic language with a figure in profile worked by hand over the golden field. It is a bright-finish piece, with no edge lettering or engraver's signature recorded on file.

Context

The medal commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Centro de Investigaciones Antropológicas de México, founded in 1953. Hence the two dates: 1953 marks the founding of the institution and 1973 the anniversary being celebrated. The Maya iconography is not random decoration; it speaks to the center's anthropological and archaeological vocation.

Value and collecting

It is not legal tender, so it has no face value: it is a commemorative medal. Its price is driven by the metal (gold) and the condition, more than by age. At 41.63 g in weight, the gold content weighs heavily in the appraisal. Before buying or selling it is worth comparing equivalent pieces; you can check where to appraise it at /tiendas or raise the question with other collectors on the /foro.