Cancún 1981 Summit Conference Medal (1981)

This medal commemorates the Cancún Summit Conference of 1981, officially the International Meeting on Cooperation and Development, held on October 22 and 23 in the Quintana Roo port. It was convened by Mexican president José López Portillo together with Austrian chancellor Bruno Kreisky, and brought together representatives from twenty-two countries.

The meeting sought to build bridges between the wealthy nations of the North and the developing economies of the South, in the spirit of the so-called Brandt Report. Although it left no binding agreements, it stood as the only North-South summit of its kind outside the UN, and placed Mexico at the center of the international diplomacy of the era.

Struck in silver, the piece recalls that moment of Mexican prominence on the global stage.

The "Conferencia cumbre Cancún 1981" medal was struck in 1981. It is made of silver, measures 39.82 mm in diameter, and weighs 30.1 grams.

Because it is a silver medal, its value has a floor: the precious-metal content (30.1 grams). Above that, what drives the price up is condition, how short the issue was, and interest in the subject it commemorates (Conferencia cumbre Cancún 1981). A piece with no wear and its original case is worth considerably more than a mishandled one.

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 "Conferencia cumbre Cancún 1981," which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. No scratches or harsh cleaning, with a natural patina.
4. Look for the case and the certificate if it 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.