Labocania anomala Medal · Dinosaurs of Mexico (Mexican Mint)

The Labocania anomala medal is part of the Dinosaurs of Mexico Collection struck by the Mexican Mint (Casa de Moneda de México) for its 490th anniversary. It is not legal-tender currency, nor is it decreed by Banxico: it is an official commemorative medal, with a satin finish, 25 millimeters in diameter and a plain edge, produced from recycled metals.

The dinosaur. Labocania anomala is a dinosaur of the Tyrannosauridae family, first described in 1966 from fossils found in Baja California. It was the first dinosaur found and studied by Mexicans. A tyrannosaur smaller and stockier than its distant cousin the T-Rex, found among the reddish clayey sediments of La Bocana Roja. It measured around 8.2 m and weighed some 2.75 tons; it was carnivorous.

The two finishes. The Mint issued the collection in two versions of the same design: a set in industrial metal (gold-colored alloy), the more affordable one, and a set in silver for the collector who wants precious-metal content. Both with a satin finish. The design of each piece was validated with Mexican paleontologists from INAH and UNAM, so the proportions are faithful to the fossil, not a generic figure.

What to expect of the value. Being a medal and not a coin, its value is collectible and thematic. The silver version has a floor from its metal content; the industrial-metal one is worth its design and the rarity of the batch. They are sold as a complete set, not loose from the factory, and several pieces are reported as sold out by batch.

Where it fits. This listing is part of the Dinosaurs of Mexico Collection, where we explain the six pieces, the two finishes, and where to buy them. To buy or sell, check the store directory and the buy-and-sell forum.