Golda the Axolotl Becomes a Symbol of Mexico
For most of her life, Golda simply existed as an axolotl in a museum in Mexico City. But then, everything changed when she was chosen to be featured on the country’s banknotes.
This specially designed banknote, showcasing Golda as a representation of Mexico’s iconic salamander, entered circulation in 2021. This development took the judges from the International Banknote Association by surprise, as they recognized the banknote highlighting a salamander.
Fast forward four years, and a report from the Bank of Mexico revealed that a staggering 12.9 million people were holding onto these banknotes, treating them as more than just their face value of 50 pesos—roughly $3. In fact, many individuals were collecting multiple pieces.
A small fraction of those surveyed mentioned they had no plans to use the banknotes. However, the investigation found that about $150 million worth of these notes was temporarily out of circulation. Some original prints are even believed to be worth up to 100 times their intended value.
This phenomenon seems unique to the Axolotl note, with only 12% of owners expressing similar sentiments about other banknotes. A lot of it appears to come down to the design being particularly appealing.
Maybe it has to do with the axolotl being a symbol of something distinctively Mexican. Though it’s an eternal tadpole, retaining its gills while also living on land, the axolotl predates the Spanish conquest and even the Aztecs. It once thrived in Lake Texcoco, located beneath the majestic Popocatepetl volcano.
When the Aztecs arrived, around AD 1300, they established Tenochtitlan, the center of their empire, on an island right in the lake. The visuals on the back of the banknote reflect this landscape, and they’re inspired by a mural created by the artist Diego Rivera. Interestingly, the Aztecs even snacked on axolotls, naming them after their god of fire and lightning.
However, after the Spanish conquest of Tenochtitlan, the new rulers drained the waters of the lake, relegating axolotls to Xochimilco, which is now on the southern fringe of modern-day Mexico City—the last remnant of the ancient waterways.
Today, very few axolotls can be found in their natural habitat. By 2014, the population density in Xochimilco had dwindled to just 36 individuals per square kilometer.
Golda is currently one of six axolotls residing at Axolotitlán, a museum dedicated to showcasing these charming creatures in Mexico City.
Though she’s now aging and seldom seen in exhibitions, Pamela Valencia, the museum’s founder, remarked that it was important to bring Golda out for photos when designing the banknote, as it would familiarize the public with an endangered species.
“Previously, we saw souvenirs featuring jaguars and hummingbirds. Now, axolotls are becoming integral to our culture and everyday life,” Valencia noted. “You can’t really save what you don’t recognize as existing.”
