Secretaria de Hacienda y Credito Publico Medal (1951)

This large-module silver medal came out of the Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público in 1951, within the series of pieces the ministry issued on the occasion of its exhibitions and official events.

Hacienda was, and still is, one of the most influential ministries in the federal government, in charge of tax collection, public spending and much of economic policy. In the years of the Mexican miracle, its exhibitions served to show the work and the solidity of public finances.

Cataloged by Grove as E-215a, the piece was struck at the Mexican Mint, which depended precisely on this ministry. Its size close to fifty millimeters places it among the table medals, meant for display and institutional recognition.

The Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público medal, struck in 1951, is a silver piece that celebrates one of the most important institutions in Mexico's economic history. At 50.01 millimeters in diameter and 66.94 grams in weight, it has the presence and bearing of the great commemorative medals of the mid-20th century.

Being silver, its value starts from a floor: the precious-metal content that those 66.94 grams add up to. From there, what drives it higher is condition, how short the issue was, and interest in the subject it commemorates. A piece with no wear, a natural patina, and its original case is worth considerably more than one that has been mishandled or aggressively cleaned.

How to identify and value this medal

1. Confirm the metal. It is silver; weigh it to estimate its fine-metal content.
2. Read the legend and the motif. It commemorates the Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público, which defines its historical interest.
3. Check the condition. Look for the absence of scratches and harsh cleaning, with a natural patina.
4. Look for the case and 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. For the collector, this medal appears referenced in catalogs as Grove, Medals of México, II #E-215a.