"Al talento y la aplicacion" Medal (1881)
Prices updated: August 2026
Silver · Merit and sports · 1881
Silver · Merit and sports · 1881
How much is the coin "Al talento y la aplicacion" Medal (1881) worth?
The market value of the coin "Al talento y la aplicacion" Medal (1881) is not yet documented with enough data to give a firm range. Weigh and measure your piece, compare it against the specifications, and check the forum for a second opinion.
The real price depends on four factors: the grade of preservation (a circulated piece is worth the low end of the range; an uncirculated one, or one still in its official blister pack, the high end), the finish (satin vs mirror/proof), the rarity within the series based on the mintage, and the metal spot price on the day of the deal when the piece is silver or gold. Check the value-by-grade table above and compare with equivalent pieces before buying or selling.
Where to buy or sell this coin?
Browse the national directory of numismatic shops or the community forum to trade directly with other collectors.
Historical context
Silver medal Al talento y la aplicación, dated 1881 and engraved by S. Navalón, among the academic merit pieces.
During the Porfiriato, education kept a central place in the project of national progress. Teaching institutions rewarded their most outstanding students with medals for talent and diligence, as an encouragement to effort and a recognition of merit.
Of good module, this piece was awarded at academic ceremonies. It documents the deep-rooted tradition of recognizing study, grounded in the conviction that instruction was the basis of the country's development. It reflects the value Mexican society placed on the education of its youth, in a regime that made progress and modernization its great banners.
Description
The "Al talento y la aplicación" medal, struck in silver in 1881, was a recognition given for academic merit and effort, an object that rewarded dedication at a time when education was beginning to be valued as a pillar of progress in Mexico. At 45.99 millimeters in diameter and 44.4 grams of silver, it is a piece of good size, the work of engraver S. Navalón G.
Like any silver medal, its value has a floor defined by the precious-metal content, but what really makes it rise is condition, how short the issue was, and interest in the subject it commemorates. A piece with no wear, with natural patina and its original case, is worth considerably more than one that has been handled or aggressively cleaned.
How to identify and value this medal
- Confirm the metal. It is silver; weigh it to estimate its fine-metal content.
- Read the legend and the motif. It commemorates "Al talento y la aplicación," which defines its historical interest.
- Check the condition. No scratches or aggressive cleaning, with natural patina.
- Look for the case and certificate if it had them: they add collector value.
Explore more pieces in the Mexican numismatics catalog and learn to read the marks in the guide on how to identify Mexican mints. For the collector, this medal is cataloged as Grove, Medals of México, II #S-81a.
Value range of this piece
Value range without enough data for this piece.
Official sources
Conversation
0 comments
Loading comments…