Coyolxauhqui Medal. In Acrylic Block (1978)

This brass medal, mounted in an acrylic block, reproduces the monolith of Coyolxauhqui, the Mexica goddess of the moon, discovered by accident on February 21, 1978, at the foot of the Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan.

The find, made during works by the electric company between the streets of Mexico City, was considered the most important since that of the Sun Stone in 1972. The great sculpture shows the dismembered goddess, according to the myth in which her brother Huitzilopochtli defeated her. The discovery gave rise to the Templo Mayor Project.

Issued the same year as the find, this piece in its acrylic block celebrates one of the great archaeological discoveries of modern Mexico. Medals with pre-Hispanic themes spread the Mexica heritage. The striking was commissioned to medal workshops or to the Mexican Mint.

The "Coyolxauhqui. En bloque de Acrílico" medal was struck in 1978. It is made of brass, measures 41 mm in diameter and weighs 122.02 grams.

As a brass medal, its value comes not from the metal but from what it commemorates: the event it celebrates, its age (1910 to the present era), and demand among collectors of the subject. Condition and the rarity of the issue are what set the price.

How to identify and value this medal

1. Confirm the metal. It is brass; its value depends on the theme and the condition.
2. Read the legend and the motif. It commemorates "Coyolxauhqui. En bloque de Acrílico," which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. No scratches or harsh cleanings, 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.