To introduce you to this article's theme please look at this coin photo courtesy of Don's World Coin Gallery: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coine_cs.php?image=nmc6/121-639&desc=Mexico%20km639%201%20Onza%20(2001%2B)%20Libertad&src=Vic%20Krysko&query=Mexico%20Libertad This Mexican Libertad struck in 2001 bears eleven different United States of Mexico Coats of Arms used on the obverses of its coinage since 1901. The current Mexican Coat of Arms is centered in the coin's obverse and is surrounded by 10 older and current versions. It is not my intent to include a photo of every Mexican coin that bears one of the Mexican Coat of Arms, but I thought you might like to see at least ten Mexican coins of the past that feature one of the Coats of Arms that encircle the current Coat of Arms and learn when a newer version replaced its predecessor. If so please continue reading this post. The Mexican Coat of Arms was adapted from a religious event experienced by the Tenochtitlan people who are a subdivisional tribe of the Aztec Nation. Due to incorrect interpretations of the original religious revelation of the Tenochtitlan by well-meaning scholars and zealous European religious leaders the true meaning of the Coat of Arms has been lost to antiquity and replaced with modernization. Yet, every version of the different Mexican Coats of Ams are rooted in those original revelations, represented by the following symbols: Golden Eagle Devouring a snake Earth and Water Nopal Cactus in Fruit Laurel and Oak Leaves The new United States of Mexico utilized the same Coat of Arms that the 2nd Republic of Mexico placed on their coins. That first Coat of Arms was placed on the obverse of all coins minted from 1905 through 1916. In 1887 President of the Second Republic, Porfino Diaz made changes to the former Coat of Arms reflecting the French style (shield breast) and the snake became a water snake. Here's two photos courtesy worldcoingallery.com: REPUBLIC OF MEXICO 1872 1 PESO: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri... km408 1 Peso (1869-1873)&query=Mexico km 408 UNITED STATES OF MEXICO 1910 CABALLITO PESO: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...eso (1910-1914) Caballito&query=Mexico km 453 A new design featuring a side view of the Eagle facing left grasping a rattlesnake began appearing on coins at different times (photos courtesy of worldcoingallery.com): 1950 - '73 CENTAVO: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...417 1 Centavo (1950-1969)&query=Mexico km 417 1936 - '42 5 CENTAVOS: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...23 5 Centavos (1936-1942)&query=Mexico km 423 1936 - '46 10 CENTAVOS: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...2 10 Centavos (1936-1946)&query=Mexico km 432 After 3,955,000 silver 20 Centavos coins were struck by the Mexico City Mint in 1943 with the breasted Eagle facing right, they struck 46,356,000 bronze 20 Centavos coins with new design (photos courtesy of worldcoingallery.com): 1920 - '43 SILVER 20 CENTAVOS: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...8 20 Centavos (1920-1943)&query=Mexico km 438 1943 - '55 BRONZE 20 CENTAVOS: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...9 20 Centavos (1943-1955)&query=Mexico km 439 The 1950 and '51 silver 50 Centavos coins were the last two silver 50 Centavos to be minted in silver and the first two 50 Centavos coins to receive the changed (side view) United States of Mexico Coat of Arms (photo courtesy of worldcoingallery.com): 1950 - '51 SILVER 50 CENTAVOS: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...9 50 Centavos (1950-1951)&query=Mexico km 449 The Silver Peso received its revised Coat of Arms in 1947 (photo courtesy of worldcoingallery.com): UNITED STATES OF MEXICO SILVER PESO 1957 - '49: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri... km456 1 Peso (1947-1949)&query=Mexico km 456 In 1957 two different Pesos were minted. One for circulation, one a commemorative of the 100th year anniversary of the US of Mexico's constitution. Note the addition of placing the Coat of Arms within a wreath on both coins (photo courtesy of worldcoingallery.com): 100 YEARS OF THE CONSTITUTION: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri... 100 yrs. of Constitution&query=Mexico km 458 BUSINESS STRIKE: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri... km459 1 Peso (1957-1967)&query=Mexico km 459 Another Change came in 1970 when, in 1968, President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz ordered a small change in Mexico's Coat of Arms making the eagle look more aggressive. Great view of the rattle on the snake! (courtesy of worldcoingallery.com): 1970 - 1983 1 PESO: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri... km460 1 Peso (1970-1983)&query=Mexico km 460 In the official documents of the Mexican government secretariates during Vicente Fox's presidency (2000-2006), the images of the head of the eagle and the snake appear to be rising up from a stripe. The detractors of the Fox administration called this image El Águila Mocha - literally "the slashed eagle" but colloquially also "the holier-than-thou Eagle", referring to Fox's government links with the religious right (mocho can mean both "mutilated" and "chauvinistic"). 2000 - 2001 10 PESOS: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...m636 10 Pesos (2000-2001)&query=Mexico km 636 Here's a bonus for reading this post: In 1968 the Mexican Mint created two different proof silver 25 Pesos commemoratives by accident. Both types have two differences (1st photo courtesy of worldcoingallery.com): Type 1 features a rattlesnake on the obverse with a straight tongue. On its reverse the first, center and last Olympic Rings are level Type 2 features a rattlesnake with a curved tongue on its obverse. The center Olympic Ring on its reverse is lower than the outside two. 1968 TYPE ONE SILVER 25 PESOS (both sides): http://worldcoingallery.com/countri... XIX Olympics in Mexico&query=Mexico km 479.1 Type 2 photos courtesy of Coin Page: 1968 TYPE TWO SILVER 25 PESOS OBVERSE: http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-1537.html 1968 TYPE TWO SILVER 25 PESOS REVERSE: http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-1538.html Hope you enjoyed this post... Clinker
Interesting topic, and a good collection of photos! :thumb: Here is an early depiction of the snake and the cactus, from the Codex Mendoza (made shortly after the Spanish conquest): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Mendoza Those who are more interested in the eagles than in the coins, and understand some Spanish, may want to look here. The Mexican mint has a few pages (HTML or PDF) about the different eagle versions: http://www.cmm.gob.mx/aguilas.html http://www.cmm.gob.mx/aguilas.pdf Christian
Let's put it this way - the descriptions of the eagles alone, at the mint's website, is helpful but somewhat abstract. Without your story, without seeing the coins you show here, the mint info is like ... the bones without the steak. Thanks again! Christian
To chrisild: Members, like you (especially you), are what makes Coin Talk so great...AND... what's makes me glad I'm a member! Clinker
