Discovery of America Medal. 500th Anniversary (1992)

This medal commemorates the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America, the great milestone of 1992 that recalled Columbus's arrival on the continent in 1492. Half a millennium later, the event was celebrated throughout the Spanish-speaking world with exhibitions, official ceremonies and numerous commemorative issues.

In Mexico, the date was approached under the idea of the encounter of two worlds, an approach that sought to acknowledge both the European legacy and the indigenous roots and mestizaje that defined the country.

Struck in silver and of good module, the piece belongs to the abundant medallic output of the quincentennial, conceived as a collector's object celebrating a historical anniversary of worldwide resonance.

What it shows

The images tied to this record do not match the title. On the main side there is a winged angel seated on clouds writing on a tablet, framed by the engraved legend A LA APLICACION PREMIO DE HONOR and an engraver's signature at the foot. On the other side, a laurel wreath surrounds the text LA AUTORIDAD POLÍTICA DE MÉXICO. It is, without doubt, an award or merit medal, not a piece for the discovery of America.

Context

The recorded title describes it as a medal for the 500th Anniversary of the Discovery of America, struck in 1992, the year that marked half a millennium since Christopher Columbus's 1492 voyage and one in which there was abundant commemorative issue in several countries. None of that motif appears on the photographed faces, which point to a school or institutional decoration in a 19th-century style. We prefer to flag the inconsistency rather than invent a story the image does not support.

Value and collecting

A medal is not legal tender: its price is not set by any denomination but by the metal, the preservation, the rarity, and the demand. Until it is clarified what this piece really is, any estimate would be premature. If you have a similar medal and want to identify or appraise it, compare with sellers in the shops directory and open the discussion with other collectors in the forum.