Escuela de Bellas Artes Medal. Primer Centenario (1881)

Bronze medal from the School of Fine Arts commemorating the First Centennial in 1881, engraved by C. Ocampo.

This piece celebrates the centennial of the Academy of San Carlos, whose provisional courses began in 1781, before its official founding two years later. The Academy, the first art institution in the Americas, trained generations of Mexican painters, sculptors, and engravers over the course of a century.

Struck by the School of Fine Arts itself, heir to the Academy, this medal commemorates a hundred years of artistic teaching in Mexico. It documents the pride of a centennial institution and its role in shaping the national art. It also reflects the historical link between the Academy and the Mint, from which it arose thanks to the engraver Jerónimo Antonio Gil.

The "Escuela de Bellas Artes. Primer Centenario" medal was struck in 1881. It is made of bronze, measures 56 mm in diameter and weighs 75.45 grams, the work of the engraver C. Ocampo G..

As a bronze medal, its value comes not from the metal but from what it commemorates: the event it celebrates, its age (1821-1910 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 bronze; its value depends on the theme and the condition.
2. Read the legend and the motif. It commemorates "Escuela de Bellas Artes. Primer Centenario," 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.