Anyone got any beautiful Mexican coinage??

State of Oaxaca - Provisional Coinage

Here's some Oaxaca coins:

Oaxaca - 5 Centavos - 1915 - KM #717


Oaxaca - 5 Centavos - 1915 - KM #719


Oaxaca - 5 Centavos - 1915 - KM #720


Oaxaca - 5 Centavos - 1915 - KM #721

 

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State of Oaxaca - Provisional Coinage

Oaxaca - 10 Centavos - 1915 - KM #722



Oaxaca - 10 Centavos - 1915 - KM #726

 

Not an expert, but check the White balance setting on your camera. If it is set for AWB, try incandesent. Also use a white background on darker coins. You have to try different settings.

 

I really like this one.

 

Here is a few from my collection, this is just some that I have near by...



Two Libertads, one is my 1999 with some nice toning. (Wish I had the 1998) The other is a 2001 I picked up for a buck over spot a few months ago.

Next I have a couple of "Caballito" Pesos.

I have a total of 8 Winged liberty 2 pesos from 1921. Only shot two of them because they are all in pretty much same condition.

Finally my 1950 "Railroad" 5 pesos. The bottom middle is a gorgeous toner. Sorry for the bad pics, thats one thing I have to get better at. I have the camera, just need more training.

 

Me too Eugene. Olay !!!

 

Pre & Post Revolution 50 centavos -

and 20 centavos -

 

5 Centavos

The Mexican dictator, Porfilio Diaz, was desperate for international investment. He began modernizing Mexico to make it both centralized and to pull it out of the backwater nation it had fallen into after the assassination of Emperor Maximillian. Also, Mexico had been seen as a rouge state that executed high officials and even aristocratic noble men. Making it a pariah in the eyes of North American and European nations. As Mexico's peso, which had been the international standard trade coin since the 16th century, had began to be supplanted by other foreign trade dollars, Diaz needed foreign investment to keep his modernization effort going. The coin below shows just one attempt at putting Mexico's coinage on pare with other nations in both appearance and content. It was short lived.

Mexico - 5 Centavos -
1882 - KM #399 - CN


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Due to the nickel 5c's failure in both design and content and as the price of silver began to stabilize an attempt was made at re-introducing the silver 5c coin.

This is the "standing eagle" type design which was re-introduced in 1869 and ended in 1881.

Mexico - 5 Centavos -
1897 CnM - KM #398.2 -
1.3530g, .09030ag, 0.0392oz


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The re-styled "standing eagle" was introduced in 1898.

Mexico - 5 Centavos -
1903 CnV - KM #400 -
1.3530g, .09030ag, 0.0392oz


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The Mexico City mint again attempted to re-introduce a nickel 5c coin. This coin is of pure nickel content. The flan/planchets were supplied by the Scovill Manufacturing Company and Coe Brass Manufacturing Company, both in the USA. The Krupp company of Austria provided the flan/planchets for the 1913 and 1914 issues. A large percentage of the 1906 and 1911 along with all the 1907 through 1910 were minted at the Birmingham Mint in England. The rest were minted at the Mexico City mint. Both are identical and have the Mexico City mint mark "M".

Mexico - 5 Centavos -
1911 M - KM #421 -
Nickel, 5.0g, 20mm - Narrow Date


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Personally, this is the most handsomest of the 5c designs. Introduced in 1914 and finally demonetized in 1936 and withdrawn from circulation in 1937.

Mexico - 5 Centavos -
1929 Mo - KM #422 -
Bronze, 9.0g, 28mm


True content: .950 copper, .025 tin, .025 zinc.

 

5 Centavos

This coin was an attempt by the Mexican government to embrace it's indigenous heritage. It was a conscious effort that began just after the the revolution of 1910 and the civil and religious wars that followed. The idea, which was total in all parts of art, literature, coinage and education, was to erase social and racial classes that had defined Mexico since the Spanish conquest. The end result was that the mestizo (indigenous/caucasian mix) took political and social power. The purely indigenous people continued to be discriminated against and the caucasian Mexican populace, that had not left for Europe or the US, was shamed into denying their Spanish/European heritage and any acknowledgement of such was counter-revolutionary or anti-Mexican nationhood, basically "pack your bags and go back to Spain or France". On the upside, Mexicans don't classify themselves individually by race. Their distinction lies in which states or cities/towns they originate from or what soccer team they cheer on.

The 10 centavos issue is similar to this one and the 20 centavos has the pyramid of the sun on it's reverse.

Just to note: This is the first issue of the "hooked eagle" design. Also the "eagle and snake" image is the official obverse side of Mexican coins. The reverse image of the outer ring is the Aztec, not Mayan, calendar.

Mexico - 5 Centavos -
1937 M - KM #423 -
CN, 4.0g, 20.5mm


True content: .800 copper, .200 nickel.

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The Mexico City mint again tried to introduce the 5c nickel. Which again failed to take hold with the populace. The new style was an attempt by Mexican officials to give a modern face to Mexico and to edge itself away from over emphasizing the indigenous theme. After WWII Mexico was seen as a backwater country that had limited accountability in the war effort even though they declared war on both Japan and Germany and had helped the US on the home front. Issued only in early 1950 it was suspended by decree in late December 1950.

Mexico - 5 Centavos -
1950 Mo - KM #425 -
CN, 4.0g, 20.5mm


True content: .750 copper, .250 nickel.

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Not a bad looking design, this coin had two reigns from 1942 to 1946 and from 1951 to 1955. The coin above was introduced during this coins hiatus of four years.

Mexico - 5 Centavos -
1955 Mo - KM #424 -
Bronze, 6.5g, 25.5mm


True content for 1942-1946: .950 copper, .010 tin, .040 zinc.

True content for 1951-1955: .950 copper, .050 zinc.

Just to note: This was the first time, begining in 1942, that an actual historical woman's image had appeared on any Mexican issues. She is Josefa Ortiz Dominguez, wife of the colonial governer during the War of Independence. She helped the rebel leader Hidalgo during the war. She died penniless and forgotten in 1829.

 

5 Centavos

This 5 Centavos issue is kinda bizarre. No provision was made for striking this issue. So the 1954 year is an unofficial issue making it a highly prized coin. When the mistake was discovered, they were pulled from circulation and were replaced by the larger bronze coins of the previous issue type (see post above).

Official minting began in 1955 and ended in 1969.

There are approximately 6 different tones, but only 3 are recognized by general collectors. It is made of brass, but the company or mint (not sure who) that supplied the flan/planchet did not keep the percentages of metals consistent. The last coin looks more bronze than brass, but it is still regarded as a brass issue.

Mexico - 5 Centavos -
1961 Mo - KM #426 -
Brass, 4.0g, 20.5mm -
Light Toning


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Mexico - 5 Centavos -
1961 Mo - KM #426 -
Brass, 4.0g, 20.5mm -
Dark Toning


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Mexico - 5 Centavos -
1965 Mo - KM #426 -
Brass, 4.0g, 20.5mm -
Bronze Toning


True content for all the above: .850 copper, .150 zinc. This is debatable considering the different toning above which is not an environmental effect but a manufacture defect.

 

5 Centavos

The following issue, which in appearance is similar to the above issue, was reduced in size and the date and mint mark were moved. The size was reduced by decree on December 30th, 1969. The same content defects in these flans/planchets can be seen, so the case of different tones applies to this issue as well. Also, the production of the flans/planchets was poor. There are many examples of damaged flans/planchets which appear to be similar to low quality slugs or tokens. For an example see the coin below. The damage can be seen on both the obverse and reverse right side.

Also, some issues were produced using chrome-plated-steel flans/planchets that were intended for another use. Some escaped and entered into circulation. Many considered this to be a counterfeit plated coin intended to be used as a higher value, not likely. No other issue in Mexico's coinage looked similar at the time to be confused with another denomination of a higher or even lower value.

Mexico - 5 Centavos -
1975 Mo - KM #427 -
Brass, 2.7500g, 18mm -
Light Toning


True content for all the above: .850 copper, .150 zinc. This is debatable considering the different toning above which is not an environmental effect but a manufacture defect.

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As far as I'm aware, the coin below was the last 5 Centavos coin issued by the Mexico City mint and will probably be the last.

Mexico - 5 Centavos -
1994 Mo - KM #546 -
Stainless Steel

 

I'm not sure if they use the term "Olay" except during the bull fights I saw as a kid. I've heard the term "arriba" used on a cartoon, Speedy Gonzalez. Mexican "cholo" gangsters use "simon" (pronounced: see-mone) or "orale" (pronounced: oorrr-da-ley). My family uses the term "bravo" or "si como no" (translation: yes, of course).

The following emoticons explain it all:

:nerd: = Olé

:goofer: = ¡Arriba!

= ¡Simón!

:too-cool-for: = iOrale, güey!

:hail: = Bravo

:3three: = Si, como no

 

Here's one.

 

The 4 amigos.

 

FIFTY PESOS ORO PURO IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE! IT WAS ON MY NECKLACE on 18k Diamond CUT...I DO NOT LIKE PLASTIC ON IT! (TPG HOLDER) Because I really want to SHOW OFF How Beautiful that Gold Coin to Touch and smell it! hmmppp..

 

Thanks for all the info on the Mexican 5 centavo series. It's very informative.

BTW, the actual spelling of the Spanish term is "ole", with an accent on the e. Unless we're talking about Oil of Olay.

 

Great coin! That's the best example I've ever seen.

 

Ha Ha! I have fixed it for proper consumption.

 

1763/2 Mexico City 8 Reales minted under Charles III. "Columnario" or "Pillar Dollar" design. Well struck with a clear overdate and lustrous. PCGS AU55.