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Message:: [QUOTE="jlblonde, post: 1536494, member: 32000"]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[ATTACH]204271.vB[/ATTACH] True content: .800 copper, .200 nickel. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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[ATTACH]204274.vB[/ATTACH] True content: .750 copper, .250 nickel. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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[ATTACH]204277.vB[/ATTACH] 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.[/QUOTE]

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