Banjercito 70th Anniversary Medal (2017)

This medal celebrates the 70th anniversary of Banjército, the National Bank of the Army, Air Force, and Navy. The institution began operations on July 15, 1947, during the administration of Miguel Alemán, as a bank tied to the Mexican armed forces. Seventy years later, in 2017, it reached the milestone this piece commemorates.

Throughout its history, Banjército has evolved into a National Credit Society of development banking, with services ranging from credit for military personnel to the well-known temporary vehicle import procedure at the border.

Struck in brass, it is an institutional anniversary medal, of the kind that companies and organizations commission to mark round figures. Its value is above all commemorative and collectible, tied to the history of an institution with nearly eight decades of life.

Commemorative medal struck in 2017 for the 70th anniversary of Banjército, the Banco Nacional del Ejército, Fuerza Aérea y Armada (National Bank of the Army, Air Force, and Navy). It is not legal-tender currency: it is an institutional piece to mark the anniversary.

What it shows

The obverse bears the Banjército emblem inside a laurel wreath: the profile of a soldier in a helmet, a naval anchor, and a ship's wheel, symbols of the three armed forces. Below it reads "Banjercito" and, following the rim, the legend "70 años de servir a los que sirven a México." The reverse shows a large "70," with the bank's logo built into the zero, the word "Años," the motto "A la Vanguardia," and the dates "1947 - 2017," also framed by laurel and a beaded border.

Context

Banjército began operations on July 15, 1947, under the government of Miguel Alemán Valdés, to serve members of the Army and Navy. In 2017 it celebrated seven decades of service, an anniversary also marked with a Lotería Nacional draw.

Value and collecting

Being brass, this medal's value comes not from the metal but from the military theme it commemorates and from its condition. A piece with no scratches, in its original case or capsule, always fetches more. If you want to buy or sell it, check the shops directory or ask in the forum, where other collectors of the theme can guide you on the real price.

To identify it with confidence, check the obverse legend and the 1947-2017 dates on the reverse: they are the signature of this issue.