Feria Nacional Potosina Medal (2002)

This medal commemorates the Feria Nacional Potosina, the great annual festival of San Luis Potosí, one of the most traditional regional fairs of north-central Mexico. With shows, agricultural, commercial, and cultural exhibitions, the fair is a gathering point of Potosí social life.

Issuing a piece for the occasion was common practice at fairs and expositions, which were usually accompanied by commemorative keepsakes.

Struck in brass in 2002 and small in module, the piece belongs to the medals of expositions and fairs, of the kind handed out among attendees and participants as a souvenir of the event and a testament to a regionally rooted festive tradition.

What it shows

The images of this record show an award medal with two very clear sides. On the reverse, a winged child angel sits on clouds holding a tablet or scroll, surrounded by the engraved legend A LA APLICACION PREMIO DE HONOR and a signature that appears to read PIEDRA D. On the obverse, a laurel wreath tied with a bow encloses the legend LA AUTORIDAD POLÍTICA DE MÉXICO. The style of the engraving and the legends points to an old academic medal, of the kind handed out as a school distinction.

Context

Pieces of this type rewarded the diligence and achievement of outstanding students. The scene of the angel with the tablet is a classic allegory of study and merit, and the mention of political authority indicates an institutional award. It is a commemorative medal, not legal tender, so it never circulated as money.

Value and collecting

Since it is not legal tender, its value is set by condition, the metal, and demand among collectors of Mexican medals, not by a face value. If you want to appraise or sell a piece like this, compare it in the stores directory or ask on the forum, where other collectors help identify it.