Tototlmimus packardensis Medal · Dinosaurs of Mexico (Mexican Mint)

The Tototlmimus packardensis medal is part of the Dinosaurs of Mexico Collection struck by the Mexican Mint for its 490th anniversary. It is not legal-tender coinage, 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 with recycled metals.

The dinosaur. Tototlmimus packardensis is a dinosaur of the Ornithomimidae family, first described in 2011 from fossils found in Sonora. It was the first ornithomimid found in Mexico. Medium-sized and probably feathered, its name comes from the Nahuatl tototl (bird) and the Greek mimus (imitator): bird imitator. It is the smallest of the six. It measured around 3.7 m and weighed about 120 kilos; it was herbivorous.

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

What to expect in 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 what its design and the batch's rarity command. They sell as a complete set, not loose from the factory, and several pieces are reported sold out by batches.

Where it fits. This entry 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-sell forum.