Latirhinus uitstlani Medal · Dinosaurs of Mexico (Casa de Moneda)

The Latirhinus uitstlani medal is part of the Dinosaurs of Mexico Collection struck by the Mexican Mint for its 490th anniversary. It is not legal tender nor decreed by Banxico: it is an official commemorative medal, with a satin finish, 25 millimeters in diameter and a smooth edge, produced with reused metals.

The dinosaur. Latirhinus uitstlani is a dinosaur of the Hadrosauridae family, first described in 1988 from fossils found in Coahuila. It was a duck-billed hadrosaur found in Coahuila, Mexico's most productive site for dinosaurs. It measured around 7.9 m and weighed some 2.6 tons; it was herbivorous.

The two finishes. The Mint issued the collection in two versions of the same design: a set in industrial metal (gold-colored alloy), the more accessible one, and a set in silver for the collector who seeks precious metal content. Both with a satin finish. The design of each piece was validated with Mexican paleontologists from INAH and UNAM, so the proportions are faithful to the fossil, not a generic figure.

What to expect of the value. Being a medal and not a coin, its value is collectible and thematic. The silver version has a floor from its metal content; the industrial-metal one is valued for design and the rarity of the lot. They are sold as a complete set, not loose from the factory, and several pieces are reported sold out by lots.

Where it fits. This listing is part of the Dinosaurs of Mexico Collection, where we explain the six pieces, the two finishes, and where to buy them. To buy or sell, check the stores directory and the buy-sell forum.