Christmas Medal. Banjercito (2011)

This medal combines two themes: the Christmas series and Banjercito, that is, the National Bank of the Army, Air Force and Navy. It is a seasonal piece issued under the seal of this financial institution, within the tradition of Christmas keepsakes minted in Mexico.

Banjercito is a development bank with a direct link to the Mexican armed forces; it began operations in 1947 and serves military personnel and the public in transactions such as bill payments and the border crossing of vehicles. Commissioning year-end commemorative medals is a common practice among institutions that want to leave a keepsake for their personnel and clients.

Minted in silver in 2011, it is a commercial and institutional piece. Its interest lies in the crossover between Christmas iconography and the brand of an institution with its own history within the country.

The Navidad de Banjército medal is a commemorative silver piece struck in 2011, with a colored Christmas motif. It is not legal-tender currency: it has no face value and does not serve to pay, it is a collectible issue tied to the Banco Nacional del Ejército, Fuerza Aérea y Armada (Banjército).

What it shows. The reverse is the eye-catching part: a spiked piñata in colored enamel (red, blue, green, and yellow), hung from a rope, and below it a group of children playing, one with the stick ready to strike it, while candy and fruit fall. It is a classic Mexican Christmas scene. The obverse is in plain silver, with the institutional emblem of Banjército at the center (shield with anchor, sword, and gear), a ring of dots around it, and the word Banjercito engraved below.

Context. Banjército is a development bank of the Mexican State that serves the Armed Forces and also markets gold and silver pieces. Themed issues like this were made for institutional gifts and for collectors, not to circulate.

Value and collecting. Being silver, it has a floor: the metal. Above that, condition rules and whether it comes with its original case or blister. If you are going to buy or sell one, compare it first at a shop in the directory or ask in the forum before closing a deal.