Instituto Nacional de Proteccion a la Infancia Medal (1964)

This gold medal commemorates the National Institute for the Protection of Childhood, the INPI, an agency created in 1961 during the government of Adolfo López Mateos to attend to the nutrition, health, and welfare of Mexican children.

The INPI was driven by the then first lady Eva Sámano de López Mateos and is remembered above all for the school-breakfast program, which sought to combat childhood malnutrition. Over time it evolved into other social-assistance institutions, up to the current DIF system.

Cataloged by Grove as 870, this 1964 piece pays tribute to that work of protecting childhood. Striking it in gold underscored the institutional weight of the agency. The Mexican Mint was the usual house for these commemorative issues of public institutions.

The medal of the Instituto Nacional de Protección a la Infancia, struck in gold in 1964, is a commemorative piece celebrating one of the most beloved institutions in Mexico's social history, dedicated to the well-being of children. Its precious-metal make and the theme it recalls make it an appealing object for both the numismatist and anyone seeking a piece with historical weight.

Struck in Mexico, it measures 38.15 millimeters in diameter and weighs 41.3 grams of gold. Because it is a medal of this metal, its value starts from a clear floor: the fine-gold content those 41.3 grams provide. From there, what pushes it higher is condition, how short the issue was, and interest in the theme it commemorates. A piece with no wear and its original case is worth considerably more than one that has been handled. To evaluate it, confirm the metal, weigh it to estimate its fine content, read the legend and the motif carefully, check that it has no scratches or harsh cleaning, and look for the original case or certificate, which 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. For the collector, this medal is cataloged as Grove, Medals of México, II #870.