The Story, History, Design, Meaning and Possible Value Behind Two Marcos-Era Treasures There are objects that look like simple pieces of metal. You can hold them in the palm of your hand. You can put them inside a small box. You can keep them inside a coin collection...
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The Story, History, Design, Meaning and Possible Value Behind Two Marcos-Era Treasures
There are objects that look like simple pieces of metal.
You can hold them in the palm of your hand.
You can put them inside a small box.
You can keep them inside a coin collection.
But sometimes, a small piece of metal can carry a much bigger story.
It can tell us about a president.
It can tell us about a political period.
It can tell us about Philippine history.
And for collectors, it can even become a valuable historical artifact.
This is why medals, commemorative coins, tokens and presidential memorabilia are so fascinating.
Today, we are going to look at two names that have played an enormous role in modern Philippine history:
Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.
and his son,
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., commonly known as BBM.
The purpose of this discussion is not simply to ask which medal is more beautiful, which one is more valuable, or which one is made from better material.
The deeper question is:
What do these pieces represent?
What is the historical meaning behind a Marcos Sr. medal?
What makes a BBM-era medal or commemorative piece different?
Can we compare the two directly?
And perhaps most importantly for collectors:
How can we determine whether a medal is actually gold, gold-plated, silver, brass, bronze, or another metal?
These questions are important because the word “gold” can sometimes create confusion in the collecting world.
A medal may have a golden appearance without being solid gold.
A commemorative piece may have a gold-colored finish.
Another piece may actually contain a significant percentage of gold.
And sometimes a gold coin or medal may have a face value that is very different from its actual collector or precious-metal value.
That is why identification comes before valuation.
PART ONE: FERDINAND MARCOS SR. AND THE AGE OF COMMEMORATIVE MEDALS
Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Sr. served as president of the Philippines from 1965 until 1986.
His administration produced one of the most controversial and historically significant periods in Philippine political history.
Whatever one's political opinion may be about Marcos Sr., there is no question that the period left behind an enormous amount of historical material.
This includes photographs, documents, stamps, coins, medals, banknotes, presidential memorabilia and commemorative objects.
For collectors, these objects are particularly interesting because they provide a physical connection to the period.
A photograph can show us what a president looked like.
A document can tell us what a government announced.
But a medal or commemorative coin can combine several things in one object:
The president's image.
The government's symbolism.
The date.
The political message.
The event being commemorated.
And sometimes the precious metal itself.
This is one reason why Marcos-era pieces remain interesting to collectors.
PART TWO: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MEDAL AND A COIN
Before comparing Marcos Sr. and BBM pieces, we need to understand an important distinction.
A coin is normally issued as money or legal tender.
A medal is generally produced to commemorate a person, event, organization or achievement.
There can be exceptions, and some commemorative coins can look almost exactly like medals.
This is where many collectors become confused.
A piece showing a president's portrait is not automatically a medal.
It might be:
- a commemorative coin,
- a presidential medal,
- an inauguration medal,
- a token,
- a private commemorative piece,
- a replica,
- a promotional item,
- or another form of memorabilia.
Therefore, the first step in identifying a Marcos piece is not to look at the color.
The first step is to identify the object.
Look at the:
date, inscriptions, denomination, diameter, weight, edge, design, mint marks, fineness marks and documentation.
These details can tell a much bigger story than the color alone.
PART THREE: THE MARCOS SR. GOLD COMMEMORATIVE COIN
One particularly interesting example from the Marcos Sr. period is the Philippine commemorative gold issue associated with the third anniversary of the New Society in 1975.
Historical numismatic references list a ₱1,000 commemorative gold coin, approximately 26.3 millimeters in diameter and weighing about 9.95 grams, with a reported composition of 90% gold.
The obverse features the profile of Ferdinand Marcos, with inscriptions associated with “Ang Bagong Lipunan,” September 21, 1972, and “Pangulong Ferdinand E. Marcos.”
The reverse carries the Philippine coat of arms and denomination.
This is an important distinction.
If someone simply says:
“I have a Marcos gold medal,”
we should not automatically assume it is this particular coin.
But this example demonstrates that genuine gold numismatic material from the Marcos Sr. period does exist.
And it is one reason why Marcos-era gold pieces attract collectors.
The physical gold is only part of the story.
The historical association is another part.
And the rarity, condition, authenticity and demand among collectors can add another layer.
PART FOUR: WHY THE 1975 GOLD PIECE IS INTERESTING
Imagine holding a piece of Philippine history from 1975.
The country was living under the political system established by Marcos Sr.
The phrase “Ang Bagong Lipunan,” or “The New Society,” was an important part of the government's political messaging.
A commemorative coin carrying the president's portrait was therefore not simply a piece of metal.
It was also a historical statement.
The portrait of Marcos was a symbol of the government.
The date was a historical marker.
The inscription identified the president.
And the gold composition added another level of prestige.
For a collector today, the object becomes interesting because it connects the physical item to a particular moment in Philippine history.
That is the power of numismatics.
A collector is not merely collecting metal.
A collector is collecting stories.
PART FIVE: THE VALUE OF GOLD IS NOT THE SAME AS THE VALUE OF A COLLECTIBLE
This is one of the most important lessons for anyone who owns a supposed gold medal.
Suppose a piece contains gold.
That does not automatically mean its selling price is equal to the weight of gold.
There are at least several different types of value.
The first is:
Melt value.
This is the approximate value of the precious metal itself.
The second is:
Numismatic value.
This is the value created by rarity, historical importance, condition, demand and other collecting factors.
The third is:
Historical value.
A historically significant object can attract collectors even beyond its raw metal value.
The fourth is:
Provenance.
If an item has documented ownership history, certificates, official packaging or reliable records, that can make a major difference.
The fifth is:
Market demand.
A rare item is not necessarily extremely expensive if almost nobody wants it.
Likewise, an item with strong collector demand can sell for more than its metal value.
This is why collectors should never judge a medal simply by looking at it.
PART SIX: WHY “GOLD COLOR” DOES NOT MEAN “SOLID GOLD”
This warning is extremely important.
Many medals are manufactured with a golden appearance.
Some are:
- brass,
- bronze,
- gold-plated,
- gold-colored alloy,
- copper alloy,
- or another base metal.
A genuine gold object can also have different levels of purity.
For example:
24-karat gold is essentially pure gold.
22-karat contains a smaller proportion of other metals.
18-karat contains 75% gold.
90% gold is different again.
Therefore, the phrase “gold medal” can have two completely different meanings.
It can mean:
a medal made of gold.
Or it can mean:
a medal that is gold-colored or described as a gold medal because of its appearance or commemorative status.
Those are not the same thing.
PART SEVEN: NOW LET US TALK ABOUT BBM
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. became president of the Philippines in 2022.
His presidency created a new era of Marcos-associated presidential memorabilia.
Just as the Marcos Sr. period generated coins, medals, tokens and commemorative objects, the BBM presidency has also generated official and private memorabilia.
But there is an important historical difference.
When we talk about Marcos Sr. pieces, we are talking about objects that are already several decades old.
A BBM-era piece is contemporary.
That difference can have a major effect on collectibility.
Age alone does not automatically make something valuable.
But older pieces have had more time to disappear from circulation, become damaged, be lost or be placed into private collections.
That can reduce the surviving population.
Modern pieces, on the other hand, may still be widely available.
Therefore, an old piece can sometimes have greater scarcity.
But again, scarcity alone is not enough.
PART EIGHT: BBM MEDALS AND THE PROBLEM OF IDENTIFICATION
When someone shows a medal and says:
“This is the BBM gold medal,”
the first question should be:
Which BBM medal?
Was it an official government award?
An inauguration medal?
A commemorative medal?
A private mint issue?
A political souvenir?
A presidential event medal?
A gold-plated collectible?
Or an actual gold piece?
These distinctions are essential.
Unlike a standard Philippine coin with a denomination and known specifications, privately produced medals may have limited documentation.
Two medals can look almost identical while having completely different compositions.
One could be brass.
Another could be silver.
Another could be gold-plated.
And another could actually be gold.
Therefore, identification should always come first.
PART NINE: MARCOS SR. VS. BBM — THE VISUAL COMPARISON
Now let's imagine placing a Marcos Sr. commemorative gold piece beside a BBM commemorative medal.
The first thing you would probably notice is the portrait.
Both belong to the same political family.
Both feature the Marcos name.
But the historical environment is completely different.
Marcos Sr.'s pieces belong to the political world of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
BBM pieces belong to the political world of the 2020s.
That means the designs can reflect different styles.
Older medals often have a more traditional numismatic appearance.
They may use classical portraiture, formal lettering, coats of arms and symbolic imagery.
Modern medals can use sharper graphics, modern typography and contemporary production techniques.
But the most important question remains:
What does the medal commemorate?
PART TEN: THE PORTRAIT OF MARCOS SR.
The portrait is one of the strongest identifying features of many Marcos-era pieces.
On commemorative coins, a presidential portrait can serve as a permanent historical marker.
It tells the viewer who was in power at the time.
But the portrait has another significance for collectors.
Condition matters.
A sharply struck portrait with clear details can be more desirable than a heavily worn example.
Collectors examine:
- the hair,
- facial details,
- lettering,
- rim,
- edge,
- surface marks,
- scratches,
- discoloration,
- dents,
- polishing,
- and evidence of cleaning.
This is why two apparently identical pieces can have very different market values.
PART ELEVEN: THE BBM PORTRAIT
The same principle applies to BBM memorabilia.
A BBM commemorative medal may feature his official portrait.
Collectors will examine the quality of the strike and the condition of the surface.
A modern piece can sometimes have extremely sharp details because modern manufacturing technology can produce very precise designs.
But precision does not automatically equal rarity.
A beautifully manufactured modern medal can still have a relatively low collector value if many thousands were produced.
This is an important difference between appearance and rarity.
PART TWELVE: WHICH ONE IS MORE HISTORIC?
This question does not have a simple answer.
If we are talking about age, a Marcos Sr. piece naturally has a longer history.
If we are talking about historical transition, both periods are important.
Marcos Sr. represents one of the most consequential eras of twentieth-century Philippine politics.
BBM represents a later period in the country's political history and the return of the Marcos family name to the presidency.
For future collectors, today's BBM medals may eventually become historical artifacts.
Imagine a collector in the year 2075 holding a BBM inauguration medal.
To that collector, the object may be more than a piece of metal.
It could represent the beginning of a political era.
The same thing happened with many older presidential pieces.
Objects that once seemed ordinary can become historical documents decades later.
PART THIRTEEN: THE POWER OF PROVENANCE
Provenance means the documented history of an object.
For medals, provenance can be very important.
Suppose you have two identical-looking pieces.
The first came with no documentation.
The second came from an official event and has:
- original packaging,
- certificate,
- official documentation,
- original box,
- event information,
- and a documented chain of ownership.
The second piece may be more attractive to collectors.
Why?
Because authenticity is easier to establish.
This is especially important with gold.
Precious-metal claims should never be accepted simply because somebody says:
“It's pure gold.”
A serious collector wants evidence.
PART FOURTEEN: HOW TO CHECK WHETHER A MARCOS OR BBM MEDAL IS REALLY GOLD
If you own one of these medals, there are several ways to investigate it.
First:
Check the inscriptions.
Look for markings such as:
24K
22K
18K
999
999.9
916
750
Au
or other fineness markings.
But remember:
A marking by itself is not absolute proof.
Counterfeit objects can also carry fake markings.
Second:
Measure the weight.
Use a reliable digital scale capable of measuring to at least 0.01 gram if possible.
Third:
Measure the diameter and thickness.
Compare those measurements with published specifications if the item is supposed to be an officially documented issue.
Fourth:
Check the edge.
The edge can contain useful information.
Look for lettering, reeding, seams, casting marks or unusual surfaces.
Fifth:
Check magnetic response.
Gold itself is not attracted to a normal magnet.
However, a nonmagnetic result does not prove that something is gold.
Many other metals are also nonmagnetic.
Sixth:
Consider professional testing.
A reputable precious-metal dealer or testing service may be able to perform an XRF test.
XRF, or X-ray fluorescence, can identify the elemental composition of many metals without damaging the item.
For an important collectible, professional testing is much safer than scratching or cutting the medal.
PART FIFTEEN: WHY YOU SHOULD NOT SCRATCH AN IMPORTANT COLLECTIBLE
Some people test gold by scratching it.
This can be a mistake.
If the object is a rare collectible, even a small scratch can reduce its value.
Imagine owning a historically important medal worth thousands of pesos, but damaging the surface just to discover whether it contains gold.
That is not a good trade.
If you suspect that a medal is valuable, preserve it first.
Document it.
Photograph it.
Weigh it.
Measure it.
Research it.
Then have it professionally tested.
PART SIXTEEN: MARCOS SR. GOLD AND THE “GOLD” STORIES SURROUNDING THE MARCOS FAMILY
There is another subject that must be handled carefully.
For decades, stories about Marcos family gold have circulated in the Philippines.
These include stories about Yamashita's treasure and so-called Tallano gold.
Some of these claims have become extremely popular on social media.
But a collector must separate historical objects from legends.
A real gold coin is physical evidence that the coin contains gold.
It does not prove a larger legend about enormous hidden treasure.
Similarly, owning a Marcos commemorative gold coin does not prove claims about the source of the Marcos family's wealth.
These are completely different questions.
This distinction is especially important when creating YouTube content.
A good documentary should distinguish:
what can be verified,
from
what is claimed,
and from
what remains unproven.
That approach makes the content more credible.
PART SEVENTEEN: THE TALLANO GOLD QUESTION
The so-called Tallano gold story has been repeatedly discussed in Philippine media and fact-checking.
The story claims that a powerful Tallano family possessed enormous amounts of gold and that Marcos obtained gold connected to the family.
However, the claim has not been established as historical fact.
BBM himself has also publicly rejected knowledge of the mythical gold narrative.
Therefore, a Marcos gold medal should never be presented as proof of Tallano gold.
That would be a historical leap.
Instead, the medal should be treated for what it actually is:
A numismatic or commemorative object that can be independently examined.
This is a much stronger approach for collectors.
PART EIGHTEEN: COULD A BBM MEDAL BECOME MORE VALUABLE IN THE FUTURE?
Absolutely possible.
But nobody can guarantee it.
The future value of a collectible depends on many factors.
Consider a modern BBM medal produced today.
If 100,000 examples were produced and most remain preserved, it may never become extremely rare.
But imagine another medal produced in a very small quantity.
Perhaps only several hundred examples were made.
If those pieces become difficult to find fifty years later, collector interest could increase.
Then add:
- historical importance,
- excellent condition,
- original packaging,
- official provenance,
- precious-metal content,
- and strong collector demand.
The potential becomes much more interesting.
This is how historical collecting works.
PART NINETEEN: WHY RARITY MATTERS
Collectors often use the phrase:
“Rare!”
But what does rare really mean?
If a seller says a medal is rare, ask:
How many were produced?
If that information is unavailable, ask:
How many examples are known?
Then ask:
How many are in good condition?
An item can be old but common.
An item can be modern but scarce.
An item can be expensive but not rare.
An item can be rare but inexpensive.
These distinctions are critical.
PART TWENTY: CONDITION — THE SECRET THAT MANY BEGINNING COLLECTORS MISS
Imagine two gold commemorative coins.
Both contain the same amount of gold.
Both were produced in the same year.
Both feature the same president.
But one is heavily scratched.
The other is almost untouched.
Collectors may prefer the second.
Why?
Because collectors do not always buy metal.
They buy condition.
A clean original surface can be extremely important.
Signs of:
- polishing,
- scratches,
- cleaning,
- corrosion,
- dents,
- fingerprints,
- stains,
- discoloration,
- and edge damage
can affect desirability.
This is why cleaning an old coin or medal is often a bad idea.
PART TWENTY-ONE: CLEANING A MARCOS MEDAL CAN REDUCE ITS VALUE
This is worth repeating.
If you discover an old Marcos Sr. medal or coin, do not immediately polish it.
Do not use toothpaste.
Do not use abrasive metal polish.
Do not sand it.
Do not scrape it.
Do not use harsh chemicals.
The original surface can carry information about the item's authenticity and condition.
Collectors often prefer original surfaces.
If you are uncertain, leave it alone.
Preservation is safer than aggressive cleaning.
PART TWENTY-TWO: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MELT VALUE AND COLLECTOR VALUE
Let's say a genuine gold medal weighs 10 grams and is 90% gold.
That does not mean you should automatically sell it as scrap gold.
Why?
Because the medal may be historically important.
Suppose the gold content has one value.
But collectors may be willing to pay more because it is a scarce historical piece.
This is called a premium over melt value.
The opposite can also happen.
A modern gold-colored medal may look impressive but contain almost no precious metal.
In that case, the value comes primarily from collecting demand.
Therefore:
Never price a collectible simply by its color.
PART TWENTY-THREE: MARCOS SR. AND BBM — A GENERATIONAL COMPARISON
Now we reach the most interesting part of the comparison.
Marcos Sr. and BBM are father and son.
Both became presidents of the Philippines.
Both became associated with a major political family.
But the historical circumstances surrounding their presidencies are very different.
Marcos Sr. entered the presidency in the 1960s.
BBM entered the presidency in the 2020s.
More than half a century separates their presidential eras.
That means their medals can serve as physical markers of two different generations.
A Marcos Sr. medal can represent twentieth-century Philippine political history.
A BBM medal can represent twenty-first-century Philippine political history.
The same family name appears on both.
But the world around the medals is dramatically different.
PART TWENTY-FOUR: TECHNOLOGY CHANGED THE WAY MEDALS ARE MADE
Another major difference is technology.
During Marcos Sr.'s period, manufacturing technology was already sophisticated, but today's minting and finishing technologies are more advanced.
Modern manufacturers can create:
- highly detailed portraits,
- mirror finishes,
- frosted backgrounds,
- laser engraving,
- complex edge lettering,
- color elements,
- security features,
- and extremely precise designs.
Therefore, a modern BBM medal can sometimes look more technically impressive than a much older medal.
But that does not automatically make it more valuable.
A collector may still prefer the older piece because of its historical significance.
PART TWENTY-FIVE: THE EMOTIONAL VALUE OF PRESIDENTIAL MEMORABILIA
Collectors are not always motivated by money.
Sometimes the emotional connection is more important.
A person may collect Marcos Sr. memorabilia because it reminds them of their childhood.
Another person may collect BBM memorabilia because they consider the 2022 election an important moment in their lifetime.
Someone else may simply appreciate Philippine history.
This is why the value of a collectible can be personal.
One collector may see a medal as a precious historical artifact.
Another may see it simply as a piece of metal.
The market determines financial value.
But the collector determines emotional value.
PART TWENTY-SIX: WHAT MAKES A MARCOS SR. PIECE SPECIAL?
For many collectors, the strongest factors are:
Age.
Historical context.
Scarcity.
Condition.
Authenticity.
Metal composition.
Design.
Documentation.
And perhaps most importantly:
Demand.
The Marcos Sr. period produced many different objects.
Therefore, simply having the Marcos name on an object does not automatically make it rare.
A collector needs to identify the exact issue.
PART TWENTY-SEVEN: WHAT MAKES A BBM PIECE SPECIAL?
The same principles apply.
The important questions are:
When was it produced?
Who produced it?
How many were made?
Was it officially authorized?
What metal was used?
Does it have a certificate?
Was it distributed to a limited group?
Was it connected to a major presidential event?
Is the original packaging still present?
Are collectors actively searching for it?
These questions are much more important than simply saying:
“This is a BBM gold medal.”
PART TWENTY-EIGHT: IF YOU FIND ONE IN AN OLD BOX
Imagine you are cleaning an old cabinet.
Inside a small box, you find a medal.
The medal shows Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
It looks golden.
You wonder:
“Could this be real gold?”
Do not rush to sell it.
Do not polish it.
Do not scratch it.
First, photograph the front.
Then photograph the back.
Photograph the edge.
Record the weight.
Record the diameter.
Look for markings.
Then search for the exact design.
If the piece matches a documented issue, compare its specifications.
If it appears valuable, have it professionally authenticated.
The same procedure applies to BBM memorabilia.
PART TWENTY-NINE: A SIMPLE COLLECTOR'S CHECKLIST
When examining a Marcos Sr. or BBM medal, write down these details:
1. Name on the medal
Who is pictured?
2. Date
What year appears on it?
3. Inscriptions
What words are written?
4. Diameter
Measure from edge to edge.
5. Weight
Use an accurate scale.
6. Thickness
Measure if possible.
7. Edge
Check for lettering or other markings.
8. Metal
Look for fineness markings.
9. Condition
Record scratches, dents, stains and cleaning.
10. Packaging
Keep the original box if available.
11. Certificate
Look for documentation.
12. Provenance
Where did the piece come from?
13. Mintage
How many were produced?
14. Market
Are collectors actually buying it?
This checklist can prevent expensive mistakes.
PART THIRTY: MARCOS SR. VS. BBM — WHICH ONE SHOULD A COLLECTOR BUY?
There is no universal answer.
If your interest is historical Philippine numismatics, Marcos Sr. material can be fascinating because it belongs to an earlier political era.
If your interest is contemporary history, BBM memorabilia may be more relevant.
If your goal is investment, however, you need to be much more careful.
Never buy something simply because someone says:
“This will be worth millions someday.”
There is no guarantee.
Collectibles are not automatically investments.
The safest approach is to buy something because you understand it, can authenticate it, and are comfortable owning it even if its price does not increase.
PART THIRTY-ONE: WHY DOCUMENTATION CAN BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE STORY
Imagine a seller tells you:
“This medal belonged to a government official.”
That sounds interesting.
But where is the evidence?
If there is no documentation, it is only a claim.
Now imagine another medal comes with:
an official box,
a certificate,
an event record,
a receipt,
and historical documentation.
The second object has a much stronger story.
In collecting, a documented story is generally stronger than an undocumented story.
That is why serious collectors keep receipts, certificates and original packaging.
PART THIRTY-TWO: THE FUTURE OF MARCOS COLLECTIBLES
The future will determine how important today's objects become.
Collectors fifty years from now may look at the 2020s in the same way that collectors today look at the 1970s.
They may ask:
What presidential medals were produced during this period?
Which ones were rare?
Which ones were officially issued?
Which ones were made of precious metals?
Which ones survived?
Which ones disappeared?
And which ones became important historical artifacts?
That is why modern BBM medals can be interesting even if they are not currently expensive.
Their historical significance may develop over time.
But again, this is a possibility, not a guarantee.
PART THIRTY-THREE: THE BIGGEST MISTAKE A COLLECTOR CAN MAKE
The biggest mistake is believing every story attached to an object.
If someone says:
“This is pure gold.”
Test it.
If someone says:
“This is worth ₱1 million.”
Check actual market evidence.
If someone says:
“Only ten exist.”
Ask for evidence.
If someone says:
“This was personally owned by President Marcos.”
Ask for provenance.
A serious collector does not rely solely on excitement.
A serious collector verifies.
PART THIRTY-FOUR: THE REAL TREASURE MAY BE THE HISTORY
Sometimes the greatest value of a medal is not its gold.
Think about that.
A small piece of metal can survive for decades.
The people who saw it being produced may already be gone.
The political events surrounding it may belong to another generation.
The buildings and offices where decisions were made may have changed.
But the medal remains.
It becomes a physical witness to history.
That is why numismatics is so fascinating.
Coins and medals allow ordinary people to hold a piece of the past.
PART THIRTY-FIVE: MARCOS SR. AND BBM — TWO PRESIDENTS, ONE FAMILY NAME
When placed side by side, a Marcos Sr. medal and a BBM medal tell a remarkable story.
The father represents an earlier generation.
The son represents a later generation.
The father's memorabilia belongs to an era before smartphones, social media and today's digital economy.
The son's memorabilia belongs to an age where political history is recorded not only in newspapers and television, but also on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and other digital platforms.
The way people experience political memorabilia has changed.
But the basic fascination remains.
People still want something physical.
Something they can hold.
Something they can preserve.
Something that says:
“I was here during this period of history.”
PART THIRTY-SIX: FOR COLLECTORS — LOOK BEYOND THE PORTRAIT
If you are a collector, do not stop at the portrait.
Look at the details.
Look at the lettering.
Look at the date.
Look at the edge.
Look at the weight.
Look at the diameter.
Look at the design.
Look at the manufacturer.
Look at the packaging.
Look at the historical event.
And most importantly:
verify the metal.
A gold-colored surface can be deceptive.
A real gold piece may have markings and documented specifications.
A professional test can provide additional confidence.
PART THIRTY-SEVEN: A FAIR COMPARISON
So, if we were to summarize the comparison, we could say:
A Marcos Sr. gold commemorative issue can have historical significance because it belongs to an earlier period of Philippine history and, in certain documented cases, contains substantial gold content.
A BBM commemorative medal belongs to a much more recent presidential era and should be identified individually before making claims about its metal composition, rarity or value.
Therefore, we cannot simply say:
“Marcos Sr.'s medal is better.”
And we cannot simply say:
“BBM's medal is better.”
The answer depends on what we are measuring.
If we are measuring age, Marcos Sr. pieces generally have the advantage.
If we are measuring historical proximity to today's generation, BBM pieces are contemporary.
If we are measuring gold content, we need the exact specifications of each piece.
If we are measuring collector demand, we need actual market evidence.
If we are measuring future potential, nobody can guarantee the answer.
PART THIRTY-EIGHT: WHY AUTHENTICITY IS EVERYTHING
A genuine medal with documentation can be valuable.
A fake medal can be nearly worthless.
This is especially important because famous political names attract counterfeiters.
The more famous the person, the greater the temptation to produce replicas.
That is why collectors should be careful with online listings.
A seller may write:
“RARE MARCOS GOLD!”
But the words in the listing do not prove the composition.
The correct question is:
What is the evidence?
A reputable seller should be willing to provide clear photographs, measurements and information about the item's origin.
PART THIRTY-NINE: THE ROLE OF PROFESSIONAL APPRAISERS
If you believe you have a genuinely rare Marcos Sr. or BBM medal, professional appraisal may be worthwhile.
A qualified numismatist can help identify the issue.
A precious-metal professional can test the metal.
A reputable auction house can provide information about market demand.
The best approach may involve all three.
Numismatics and precious-metal testing are related but not identical.
A gold buyer may know how to test gold but may not understand the collector premium of a rare historical medal.
A coin collector may understand rarity but may not have the equipment to test metal composition.
That is why expertise matters.
PART FORTY: FINAL COMPARISON
So what is the real difference between a Marcos Sr. gold piece and a BBM medal?
The answer is deeper than gold.
The Marcos Sr. piece belongs to a historical period that is already several decades old.
The BBM piece belongs to a contemporary period whose historical significance is still developing.
The Marcos Sr. era has already generated decades of collecting history.
BBM memorabilia is still being produced and collected today.
One is already history.
The other is becoming history.
And perhaps that is the most fascinating comparison of all.
CONCLUSION: MORE THAN JUST A PIECE OF METAL
A medal can be small.
History is not.
A medal can fit inside your hand.
But the story behind it can span generations.
A Marcos Sr. gold commemorative piece can tell us about the Philippines of the 1970s.
A BBM medal can tell us about the Philippines of the 2020s.
The two objects can look similar.
They may both carry a presidential portrait.
They may both have golden surfaces.
They may both become collectibles.
But they belong to different historical worlds.
And that is why collectors should look beyond the shine.
Gold is valuable.
But history can be priceless.
When examining a Marcos Sr. or BBM medal, do not simply ask:
“How much gold is inside?”
Ask:
“When was it made?”
“Why was it made?”
“Who produced it?”
“How many were made?”
“Is it authentic?”
“What is its historical significance?”
“And what will collectors think about it fifty years from now?”
Those are the questions that turn an ordinary object into a fascinating collectible.
And if you happen to own a Marcos Sr. medal, a BBM medal, or another presidential commemorative piece, remember one important rule:
Do not clean it, scratch it, or sell it immediately just because someone tells you it is gold.
First, identify it.
Then verify it.
Then test it.
Then research its history.
Only after those steps should you think about its value.
Because sometimes the most valuable thing about an old medal is not the metal.
It is the story.
And when that story connects two generations of Philippine presidents — Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. — the little piece of metal in your hand becomes part of a much larger story about the Philippines, its politics, its people, and its history.
That is the true fascination of presidential collectibles.
They are not merely coins.
They are not merely medals.
They are physical reminders of the past.
And one day, the medals being produced today may become the historical treasures that future generations will study, collect and preserve.
So before you look at the price tag, look at the history.
Before you look at the gold color, check the composition.
Before you believe the story, verify the facts.
And before you sell a rare historical piece, make sure you know exactly what you have.
Because you may not simply be holding gold.
You may be holding a piece of Philippine history. Important: The comparison above deliberately avoids claiming that a specific BBM item is solid gold without identifying the exact medal. The documented Marcos Sr. example mentioned is a 1975 ₱1,000 commemorative coin listed as 90% gold, which is different from calling every Marcos Sr. medal a gold medal.
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