Mexican Coins of Value: What Is Worth Keeping?

Coins can be different in terms of their origin, shape, and hue, but their meaning generally stays the same. They carry history, peculiarities of their culture, and sometimes even unexpected values, too. Mexican coins may seem so far away and exquisite that the demand grows faster, and so does their worth.

Identifying and collecting these numismatic creations is a quite widespread, but time-consuming endeavor. So, which aspects are we to consider when choosing the most outstanding samples? And what do they have behind their appearance? Read our material and check coin value along with the experts from our company.

A Brief History of Mexican Coins

The history of Mexican coinage can be as vivid as its culture and legacy these days. Some periods were stable and consistent. Others were chaotic and inexplicable.

First of all, we would like to note that pre-Hispanic civilizations in Mexico, e.g., the Aztecs and Mayans, did not have any type of coinage in their system. Instead, it was all about barter and exchange. As for the real money, they were brought to the land of charm when it fell under the control of Spain. 

During Spanish rule from 1521 to 1821, Mexico became a major silver producer. In fact, they minted 8 Reales coins – trading instruments that were widely utilized throughout the world and influenced currencies such as the US dollar. These units of currency, issued by the Casa de Moneda de México (est. 1535), displayed Spanish royal images and stayed in circulation for many years.

However, soon after gaining independence in 1821, Mexico introduced its own currency – the pesos, which was meant to replace colonial reales for good. From that point, Mexican peso coins began to bear national symbols such as the Mexican eagle and snake. During the 19th century, Mexican authorities heavily relied on silver, like the U.S. in the 1923 Silver Dollar, but gold was also quite useful at that time.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries brought economic changes, with gold coins such as the 50 Pesos Centenario (1921) gaining popularity. The Mexican Revolution meant that the nation would witness the issuance of the rebel units of currency, which are often sought-after by collectors today. By the mid-century, though, silver had been gradually removed from the circulating pieces. 

Factors That May Define the Value

When one strives to explore and obtain Mexican coins worth money, it is vital to recognize which features may influence the value significantly. Let us review the most essential aspects and then proceed with the particular examples taken directly from Mexico. 

*In fact, there are far more aspects that may be more or less influential, e.g., historical relevance, key dates, current market demand (i.e., the psychological factor), origin, etc. You are always free to employ tools like Coin ID Scanner to evaluate coins before sending them to the dedicated organization. This is how you might be prepared in advance and never get cheated. 

Rare Mexican Coins to Look for

Throughout its history, Mexico became a flourishing numismatic space with several notable creations worth our attention today. Here is the list of old and current Mexican coins supported by the GreatCollections auction database (the latest bids as of March, 7 included).

1825/4-Mo JM Gold 1/2 Escudo

Last Bid: $434.00

Face Value: Equivalent to 1 Peso at the time

This unusual Mexican gold coin (i.e., half escudo), was produced in Mexico City (Mo) and bears a clear overdate error (1825/4), with the last digit of the year corrected over the original strike. 

1942-Mo 5 Centavos

Last Bid: $575.00

Face Value: 0.05 Pesos 

The 1942 5 Centavos from the Mexico City Mint is one of the scariest issues in this series. Despite its modest denomination, this piece is rare to locate in high grade, which makes it appealing to collectors of Mexican minor currency.

1943 Gold 50 Pesos

Last Bid: $4,100.00

Face Value: 50 Pesos

The 50 peso gold coin, also known as the Centenario, was first struck in 1921 to honor Mexico's independence. The 1943 issue is very valuable because of its high gold content (37.5 grams of.900 fine gold) and significant demand in both the numismatic and bullion markets.

Guerrero 1914-GRO Silver 2 Peso

Last Bid: $205.00

Face Value: 2 Pesos

The era of revolution gave birth to the significant Mexican silver coins without a doubt. 2 Pesos silver coin, for example, was minted in Guerrero in 1914, during the Mexican Revolution. These had restricted circulation and were often employed under difficult conditions. 

2010-Mo Silver Kilo Libertad

Last Bid: $780.00

Face Value: No face value (bullion coin)

The Silver Libertad series is one of Mexico's most well-known bullion programs ever launched. The 2010 1-kilogram version, struck in .999 fine silver, has a limited mintage of only 600 pieces worldwide and no official face value, which means its value is determined by silver prices and collector demand only. And the demand is quite high!

2020-Mo Silver 100 Pesos Kilo Calendario Aztec

Last Bid: $2,200.00

Face Value: 100 Pesos

Lastly, here is a notable silver Mexican coin issued in 2020. It features the intricate design of the Aztec Sun Stone (Calendario Azteca) and weighs 1 kilo, just like the previous example. Indeed, collectors aspire to get it and incorporate it into a fine collection of notable Mexican currency coins.

Are You Even Real? Authentication Principles 

Let us assume you have found a vendor to purchase a coin. Checking its authenticity is essential and cannot be missed at any stage of this process. 

1. First and foremost, one should pay attention to mint marks and design features. Mint marks reveal where a coin was made, while the overall appearance can give you hints if there are any anomalies indicating a counterfeit present. Also mind that fakes often display poor engraving, uneven lines, or unclear images when compared to genuine coins.

2. Although you can send out your coins to PCGS or NGC, the prior step may involve the use of apps like Coin ID Scanner, which scans and analyzes coins via a visual recognition algorithm. All you have to do is snap a picture of the coin for the app to compare its design and attributes to a large database of all known authentic coins. If something is wrong with the coin, you will be instantly notified. Such a cool thing to try!

3. Another crucial authentication point refers to the examination of the metal content. Most coins are made of certain alloys, such as gold, silver (check out whether you have an 1 oz silver coin), or copper, which give them their unique weight and feel. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technology can be used to determine the exact metal composition of a coin and confirm that it meets the original specifications.

4. Besides, it is always reasonable for coins to undergo a process called weight and diameter measurement. Genuine coins have a specific weight and size, which counterfeit coins frequently fail to exhibit.

Mexican coins can provide you with an exceptional experience, as these are truly beautiful, historically meaningful, and valuable not to mention. Get ready to investigate what you are looking for and use the proper tools to make it even more fruitful.

Sources: 

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_peso 

2. https://www.monedanumismatica.com/coins/mexico.html