Banco de Mexico Medal (1979)

This bronze medal, of good module, was issued by the Banco de México in 1979 as part of its activities of exhibition and outreach on the national monetary heritage.

The central bank, founded in 1925, not only issued currency but also cultivated the promotion of numismatic culture, with exhibitions and publications on the history of money in Mexico. These issues reflected its role as custodian of the country's monetary memory.

Of medium-large format, the bronze piece belongs to the exhibition medals. The issues of the Banco de México document its cultural work beyond its strictly financial functions. The minting of these commemorative pieces was carried out by the Mexico City Mint, a mint historically tied to the nation's central bank.

What it shows

The reverse is the commemorative side: a feathered serpent's head, Quetzalcóatl, carved in high relief, with a band of stepped fret and the legend "EXPOSICION DE MONEDAS DEL BANCO DE MÉXICO." Alongside it appear the year "1979," the word "JERUSALEN," and a monogram. The obverse carries a menorah, the seven-branched candelabrum, with the legend "ISRAEL COIN EXHIBITION MÉXICO 1979" and text in Hebrew.

Context

The piece recalls the Bank of Mexico coin exhibition presented in 1979 within the framework of a numismatic gathering between Mexico and Israel, in Jerusalem. That is why the Mexican symbol of the feathered serpent coexists with the menorah, emblem of the State of Israel, and the legends in Spanish, English, and Hebrew. It is a commemorative medal, not legal tender.

Value and collecting

Not being a circulating coin, its value is not fixed by any denomination: what governs is the metal (bronze), the weight, the diameter, and above all the state of preservation. Sharp reliefs and even patina carry more weight than age. If you want to appraise or sell it, check the store directory and compare with what is discussed in the forum.