Casa de Moneda de Mexico Medal. ISO 9001 Certification (1997)

This medal commemorates the ISO 9001 certification of the Casa de Moneda de México, an international recognition of the quality of its production processes. Achieving this standard placed the oldest mint in the Americas, founded in 1535, at the level of the global industrial standards of the late twentieth century.

The certification reflected the modernization drive of the institution charged with striking Mexican currency, at a time of strong international competition in the sector.

Struck in silver, of good size and weight, this 1997 issue belongs to the institutional medals with which the Mint itself celebrated its technical milestones, intended for collectors and prestigious official gifts.

What it shows

The images in this entry correspond to a school prize medal, not to the piece announced by the title. On one face, a winged angel seated on clouds writes on a tablet, framed by the legend A LA APLICACION PREMIO DE HONOR and an engraver's signature at the foot. On the other face, inside a laurel wreath tied with a ribbon, it reads in four lines LA AUTORIDAD POLÍTICA DE MÉXICO. The finish is bronze or copper, with the wear typical of a 19th-century piece.

Context

This is an academic recognition medal, of the type authorities handed out to the best students for their application and achievement. The combination of the angel with the tablet and the legend "PREMIO DE HONOR" is a classic motif of 19th-century Mexican school medals. There is nothing in the image pointing to the ISO 9001 certification of the Casa de Moneda de México or to the year 1997 indicated in the record.

Value and collecting

No medal is legal tender, so its value depends on the metal, the rarity, and above all the state of preservation. In bronze, the price is set by wear, knocks on the edge, and the sharpness of the relief. Before buying or selling it is worth comparing real pieces; you can check the shops directory and raise attribution questions in the forum.