5 Pesos 1947 Cuauhtemoc Plata 0.900

40mm
.90 silver contet
Minted about 2.5 mil. 1948 they minted considerably more.

I found it to be a very atractive coin and one of the last at that purity level for quitet some time in Mexico, I belive until the Libertad. Please correct me if I'm wrong. The coin has in interesting history..

 

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I love this coin too. There were some 10 pesos in the late 1950s that were 90%, but you're not far off.

What's the interesting history?

 

A lot (well most) of the credit goes to wikipedia.

Mexico debased their curremcy for much of the 20th century until the minting of the 5 Pesos Mexican Coin. In 1947, a new issue of silver coins was struck, with the 50 centavos and 1 peso in .500 fineness and a new 5-peso coin in .900 fineness. A portrait of José María Morelos appeared on the 1 peso and this was to remain a feature of the 1-peso coin until its demise. The silver content of this series was 5.4 g to the peso. This was reduced to 4 g in 1950, when .300 fineness 25 and 50-centavo and 1-peso coins were minted alongside .720 fineness 5 pesos.

Cuauhtemoc appeared on the face of the Mexico 5 Pesos coin. He was the Aztec ruler (of Tenochtitlan from 1520 to 1521. The name Cuāuhtemōc means "One That Has Descended Like an Eagle", commonly rendered in English as "Descending Eagle" as in the moment when an eagle folds its wings and plummets down to strike its prey, so this is a name that implies aggressiveness and determination.

Cuauhtémoc took power in 1520 as successor of Cuitláhuac and was a cousin of the former emperor Moctezuma II. His young wife, who would later be known as Isabel Moctezuma, was one of Moctezuma's daughters. He ascended to the throne when he was 25 years of age, as his city was being besieged by the Spanish and devastated by an epidemic of smallpox brought to the New World by Spanish invaders. Probably after the killings in the main temple, there were few Aztec captains available to take the position.

Cortés captured Cuahtemoc and had him executed. A brave warrior lives on on the face of this coin. The coin was only minted for 2 years 1947 and 1948. Many less were minted in 1947.

 

xlrcable you are right. Mexico from 1955-1960 minted a 10 peso .90 silver coin.

The 1960 Mexican 10 Pesos Silver Coin celebrated the 150th anniversary of Mexican Independence, and honored Miguel Hidalgo, considered the Father of His Country, who started the 1810 War of Independence against Spain; and Francisco Madero, the “Leader of the Revolution,” who led the Mexican Revolution against the dictator Diaz and restored democracy to Mexico. This coin has .8357 oz of silver.

Front/Obverse

The obverse has the design of the national arms before the serpent was changed to a rattlesnake, and has the eagle perched on a cactus. The legend “Diez Pesos - Ley 900 - 28,888 G - 1960” runs along the border.

Rear/Reverse

The reverse has the conjoined busts of Hidalgo (to the left) and Madero. Next to Hidalgo is the date 1810, when he started the Mexican War of Independence, and next to Madero is the date 1910, when he started the Mexican Revolution. Above them both is the date of mintage, 1960. The legends around the border reads in Spanish “Independence and Liberty” across the top and “Real Democracy, No Re-election” (the motto of the Revolution against dictator Diaz, who rigged elections to stay in power.)

 

Really I think all the big silver coins from mid-century Mexico are interesting, partly because I've never been sure how they were actually used by the public. The 5 peso Cuauhtemoc must have been meant to circulate: they made 32 million of them, which for perspective is about twice the number of half dollars made in the US during the same two years. Some of the 5 and 10 pesos from the late 50s seem more like commemoratives, with mintages well under a million. Look at eBay, though, and you'll see slews of the Cuauhtemoc in MS holders, while the commemoratives turn up mostly as raw "BU" examples that in fact look like they spent some time in people's pockets.

 

That's a good point. I noticed that also and wondered why. I can't figure it out. Any insight would be appreciated.

 

Here'a pic of a 1955 which I believe only features Hidalgo. Was the 1960 the only issue with the conjoined busts of Hidalgo (to the left) and Madero? Arguably I feel the 1947-1948 coin is more dramatic and attractive.

 

I absolutely love the Cuauhtemoc coins. One of my favorite Mexican issues by far. I like to pick up mint state examples when I see them and I too prefer the 1947 to the 1948.

I have 2 or 3 raw coins and one graded example.

 

All my 1947s have been raw and I try to pick up uncirculated coins (or as close as possible). I've been purchasing them from eBay. That's the only place I can find them. I try to pay $30 or less.

I don't know what you would grade the 1947 from my original post but it was described as uncirculated in the eBay ad.

treylxapi47 do you recommend any additional avenues to locate these coins?

Most of the sellers on eBay tend to be out west which would make sense due to their proximity to Mexico. I live in a small town in North Carolina and my LCS has no clue about these coins much less any in stock.

 

I generally use ebay, I did find one at my LCS in his junk foreign silver bin awhile back, but that was just pure dumb luck.

Im about like you i try to stay around $30-$40 dollar range, but i had to pay a little more for my graded one, came in around $45-$47 i believe.

If you dont mind me asking, what part of NC are you from. I live fairly close to the beach here. I am always around Beaufort, Morehead City, Atlantic Beach, New Bern and the surrounding areas.

 

Thats a coin I would definitely purchase if I was looking for a Cuauhtemoc coin. I would say its reasonably in the High AU to BU range, cant really determine any better of a grade from the pictures. I dont see any real distracting marks and it looks like it has plenty of luster. Just shooting in the dark here, but I would gamble you would see similar coins in slabs graded from MS-61 to MS-63ish, possibly a 64, but the pictures arent clear enough to tell. Anyway, like i said, I would buy it if i seen it on the auction block.

 

treylxapi47 I live really close by in Wilmington, NC. It's a small world indeed. If you have the time or the inclination post some pics of your coins. I'd love to see them. That's very cool you found one in your dealer's junk silver bin. What a find! The slabbed coin you bought what was the grade?

 

Oh yeah, Wilmington isnt far at all, small world indeed. I have quite a few friends who attend UNC-W.

Heres the link to the ebay auction, I dont have pictures at the moment, but just check the link. It graded at an MS-63 and has very nice toning once i seen it in hand

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281184181847?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

 

I will try and upload pictures from my phone in a bit

 

Sounds good. Can't wait to see them.

 

Best place to find these coins outside of ebay. I've always obtained quality coins from Don Bailey.

http://donbailey-mexico.com/cgi/Process.cgi?act=LISTINGS&CAT=Peso&search=&session=1381584871

 

His prices seem reasonable. Too bad there's not more pics.

 

Here's a few of my coins.








































Here's just a few I have uploaded to my photobucket. I have a thread here on my type set I've been building. Click on my username and go to threads I've authored and you should see it. It's titled Progress on my Type-set or something close to that.

 

Will do. Very nice coins and great pics!