Printing Press Medal. 400th Anniversary (1939)

In 1939 the fourth centenary of the printing press in Mexico was commemorated, four hundred years since the arrival of the first printing press on the American continent, established in Mexico City around 1539 during the viceroyalty. It was the first in all of the New World.

This gold medal celebrates that cultural milestone. The introduction of the printing press made it possible to spread books, catechisms, and documents, and it turned Mexico into the cradle of American print culture, a source of great historical pride.

Its making in gold reflects the importance given to the occasion. It stands as testimony to Mexico's pioneering role in the history of the book and of written culture in the Americas. It documents how the post-revolutionary period reclaimed the great achievements of the past as part of the national identity.

The Imprenta 400 Aniversario medal, struck in gold in 1939, celebrates four centuries since the arrival of the printing press in Mexico, a milestone that transformed the country's culture and intellectual life. It is a commemorative piece of great appeal, both for its historical subject and for being made of precious metal.

At 39.13 millimeters in diameter and 44.63 grams of gold, its value has a clear floor in the fine-metal content. Above that, what pushes it higher is condition, the small size of the issue, and interest in the subject it commemorates. A piece with no wear, natural patina, and its original case is worth considerably more than one that has been handled or harshly cleaned. When examining it, it helps to confirm the metal by weighing it, read the legend and the motif, and look for the original case and certificate if it had them, because they add collector value.

For the collector, this medal is referenced in the catalog as Grove, Medals of México, II #508. Explore more pieces in the Mexican numismatics catalog and learn to read the marks in the guide on how to identify Mexican mints.