Banco de México Medal. 70th Anniversary (1995)

This medal celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Banco de México, the country's central bank, inaugurated on September 1, 1925 under the presidency of Plutarco Elías Calles. Its creation closed a long period of monetary disorder and concentrated the issue of coin and banknote in a single institution.

Adding seventy years to 1925 confirms the date of 1995, the year in which Banxico was also debuting the constitutional autonomy granted shortly before, a milestone in its history as steward of monetary policy.

Struck in gold, of good size and weight, the piece is an especially luxurious anniversary issue, of the kind the central bank reserved for collectors and prestigious institutional gifts.

What it shows: This bronze medal bears on one face a winged angel seated on clouds holding a tablet or scroll, surrounded by the engraved legend A LA APLICACION PREMIO DE HONOR and signed by its engraver at the bottom. The other face carries a laurel wreath framing the four-line inscription LA AUTORIDAD POLÍTICA DE MÉXICO. By its workmanship, iconography, and brown patina, it appears to be a 19th-century piece, of the school-prize or achievement type, not a modern issue.

Context: Prize-of-honor and achievement medals were awarded in 19th-century Mexican schools and academies as recognition of merit. The angel with the book symbolizes study and virtue, a common motif in the educational medallic art of the era. The mention of the political authority suggests it was struck or sponsored by a government body.

Catalog note: the recorded title associates it with the Banco de México, but the image does not match that description, so it is worth verifying the identity before treating it as a reference.

Value and collecting: It is not legal-tender currency, it is a commemorative piece. In medals like this, value is set by condition, the metal, and rarity, not a list price. If you want to appraise it or look for a similar one, check the stores directory and share photos of the edge and the weight in the forum for a second opinion.