Ciudad Universitaria Medal. 1952 (1952)

This silver medal, dated 1952, commemorates the inauguration of Ciudad Universitaria at the National University of Mexico, the great campus raised in the Pedregal de San Ángel south of the capital.

The official dedication took place on November 20, 1952, with President Miguel Alemán presiding. Bringing together in a single complex the faculties that until then were scattered across the historic center marked the birth of the modern university in Mexico.

Cataloged by Grove as 616a, this is the silver variant of the Ciudad Universitaria commemorative medal, sister to the gold version. Both were issued to celebrate the same event. The Mexican Mint was responsible for these issues, today prized pieces for their historical weight and their link to the country's premier institution of higher learning.

The "Ciudad Universitaria. 1952" medal celebrates one of the great projects of modern Mexico: the inauguration of the central campus of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, a place that brought together art, architecture, and science in a single location. Struck that same year in silver, at 36 millimeters in diameter and 27.71 grams in weight, it is a piece that links numismatics with the country's cultural history.

Because it is silver, its value has a clear floor: the precious metal content of its 27.71 grams. Above that, what drives the price up is the condition, how small the issue was, and interest in the subject it commemorates. A piece with no wear, natural patina, and its original case is worth considerably more than one that has been mishandled.

How to identify and value this medal

1. Confirm the metal. It is silver; weigh it to estimate its fine metal content.
2. Read the legend and the motif. It commemorates "Ciudad Universitaria. 1952," which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. No scratches or harsh cleaning, with natural patina.
4. Look for the case and the certificate if it had them: they add collector value.

For the collector, this piece is cataloged as Grove, Medals of México, II #616a. Explore more pieces in the Mexican numismatics catalog and learn to read the marks in the guide on how to identify Mexican mints.