FIRA / Banco de Mexico Medal. 50th Anniversary (1994)

This medal celebrates the 50th anniversary of FIRA, the Fideicomisos Instituidos en Relación con la Agricultura (Trusts Established in Relation to Agriculture), created in 1954 within the Bank of Mexico to channel credit and technical support to the Mexican countryside.

Adding half a century to 1954 places the anniversary in 1994. FIRA has been a key piece of rural financing in the country, supporting agricultural, forestry, and fishing producers throughout its history.

Struck in bimetallic composition, that is with two different metals, of large module and considerable weight, the piece belongs to the central bank's institutional issues, of the kind meant to commemorate anniversaries of its development trusts.

What the image shows

The photographs in this entry do not match the title. On one face appears a winged cherub seated on clouds, writing on a tablet, framed by the engraved legend "A LA APLICACION PREMIO DE HONOR" and an engraver's signature in the exergue. On the other face, a laurel wreath embraces the legend "LA AUTORIDAD POLÍTICA DE MÉXICO." It is a monometallic piece of bronze or copper, with a dark patina.

Context

The recorded title ("Medalla FIRA / Banco de México. 50 Aniversario, 1994") describes a bimetallic commemorative medal of the late 20th century. What is seen in the image is, instead, an academic prize medal with a 19th-century air, awarded by a Mexican political authority. There are no elements pointing to FIRA, to Banco de México, or to a 1994 anniversary.

Value and collecting

We cannot publish a valuation or a definitive entry while the image does not correspond to the piece in the title. No medal is legal tender: its interest depends on metal, condition, and demand for the design. If you have a medal like this and want to identify it or sell it, check the shops directory or ask in the forum, where we help pin down the correct issue before appraising.