Military College Medal. 100th Anniversary (1924)

The Colegio Militar is the institution that has trained the officers of the Mexican Army since the first decades of independent Mexico. Its history is tied to heroic episodes, especially the defense of Chapultepec Castle in 1847 against the U.S. invasion.

This 1924 silver medal commemorates the centennial of the institution, whose origin traces back to the creation of a military college in the 1820s. Training professional officers was a necessity for the young Mexican state from its earliest days.

The piece is a testament to the prestige of military training in Mexico and to the reverence for the army's feats. It documents how, in the midst of the post-revolutionary period, the military tradition of an institution present at the decisive moments of the nation's history was honored.

The Colegio Militar 100th Anniversary medal, struck in 1924, celebrates the first century of the institution that has trained the officers of the Mexican Army. It is a silver piece that combines commemorative value and historical interest, highly prized by those who collect military medals.

Struck in silver, it measures 37.02 millimeters in diameter and weighs 23.9 grams. Being a silver medal, its value has a floor: the precious-metal content. Above that, what drives it up is condition, the small size of the issue, and interest in the subject it commemorates. A piece with no wear and its original case is worth considerably more than one that has been handled.

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 the 100th Anniversary of the Colegio Militar, which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. No scratches or harsh cleaning, with a natural patina.
4. Look for the case and certificate if it once 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 #448a.