Estados Unidos Mexicanos- A History of Modern Coinage

ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS
The United States of Mexico

Modern coinage 1905 to Date

On March 25, 1905 Mexico underwent a major monetary reform. The Obverse legend now read Estados Unidos Mexicanos and the eagle was redesigned.




Mexico's Coat of Arms.

The Eagle represents the good people of Mexico.
The Snake represents the evil enemies of the people.
The Eagle devouring the snake means the good will prevail over the evil.

The cactus represents trouble and challenges. The Eagle standing over the cactus means the people will overcome the challenges.

Earth and water represents the cultural origins and the racial mixing of the Europeans and the Native Americans.

The Laurel and Oak leaf represent victory, and honors those who gave their lives for Mexico

Over the last few years I have assembled a Type Set of the Modern Mexico coinage from the era of 1905 to date. I plan to present this series along with data about the coins. This will be done over a period of time. I plan to start with the lowest denomination and work my way up to the largest. Please feel free to provide comments and share any examples you might have as I go along.


1 Centavo
Bronze Coinage
1905-1914 diameter 20mm, weight 3 grams, .950 Copper, .040 Tin, .010 Zinc
1914-1915 composition changed to .950 Copper, .025 Tin, .025 Zinc





Reduced Size coinage 1915

Struck in Mexico City while under control of the Convencion represented by the military forces of Zapata. These were struck during the month of July only. They did not circulate long and were declared illegal by the Constitucionalista Government in September of 1916. It was considered by many to be more of a Revolutionary coin than a Federal coin.

1915 diameter 16mm, weight 1.5 grams, .950 Copper, .025 Tin, .025 Zinc

 

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Regular size resumed 1916-1949
1916-1943 20mm, 3 Grams, .950 Copper, .025 Tin, .025 Zinc


1944-1949 20mm, 3 grams, .010 Tin, .040 Zinc



Brass Coinage 1950-1969
The size of the coin was reduced and the Eagle modified
16mm, 2.0 Grams, .850 Copper, .150 Zinc



1970-1973
13mm, 1.5 Grams, .850 Copper, .150 Zinc

This coin was not minted in 1971 and only 1,000,000 each minted in 1970,1972,1973
The example below is a 1972/2 variety

 

2 Centavos

Bronze Coinage 1905-1906
20mm, 6 Grams, .950 Copper, .040 Tin, .010 Zinc

In 1906-1907 the Birmingham Mint in London struck 5 Million coins.
They are identical to the coins stuck in Mexico. The 1906 had a variation in the spacing of the numerals in the dates but can’t be attributed to either of the 2 mints. The example below is the Narrow date variety.



Reduced size 1915
20mm, 3 Grams, .950 Copper, .025 Tin, .025 Zinc

This coin shares the same history as the 1 Centavo Zapata issue



Regular size resumed 1920-1941

The 2 Centavos was demonetized in 1942 and retired from circulation in 1943




To be continued

 

Interesting info about the meaning of the eagle and snake. I always thought it was just based on the Aztec legend of the founding of their capital. The story was that they wandered until they saw an eagle on a cactus with a snake in its mouth, and that was the sign of where to build.

 

That was what I had always heard.

 

I was just reading more about the seal on Wikipedia. Apparently both versions are true. It started as the Aztec religious symbol and was later modified by Europeans into a parable of good and evil.

 

It's nice to see this topic getting a little exposure - looking forward to more.

 

5 Centavos

Nickel coinage 1905-1914

20mm, 5 Grams, pure Nickel
Both the Scovill and the Coe manufacturing companies in Connecticut supplied planchets. The Atthur Krupp Company in Berndorf Austria also supplied plancetes in 1913-1914.



Bronze Coinage 1914-1935

During WWI the Nickel supplies became impossible to obtain. The 5 Centavos was changed to a larger Bronze coin.
28mm, 9 Grams, .950 Copper, .025 Tin, .025 Zinc



Copper-Nickel 1936-1942

A new design taken from the Aztec Calendar.
20.5mm, 4 Grams, .800 Copper, .200 Nickel




Bronze Coinage 1942-1946

Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez was the first woman in the history of Mexico to have her effigy place on a coin from Mexico. She was the wife of the Spanish-Colonial Governor of Mexico during the time of the insurrection againgt Spain. The coin was commonly known as the “Josefita”.
25.5mm, 6.5 Grams, .950 Copper, .010 Tin, .040 Zinc.



Copper-Nickel 1950

A redesigned Josefa and a smaller coin was minted for this one year
20.5mm, 4 Grams, .750 Copper, .250 Nickel

 

Bronze Coinage 1951-1955
25.5mm, 6.5 Grams, .950 Copper, .050 Zinc



Brass 1954-1969

20.5mm, 4 Grams, .850 Copper, .150 Zinc


Brass 1970-1976

Reduced in size and a redesigned eagle. The coin was struck without any relief.
18mm, 2.75 Grams, .850 Copper, .150 Zinc



Coinage reform Act of 1992
1000 Old Pesos became 1 New Peso and the composition of Mexico’s coins changed.

Stainless Steel 1992-2002
15.5mm, 1.58 Grams, Stainless Steel

 

Just a small note: The 5 centavos ceased production after 2002. Great history!

 

Nice writeup and coins so far. One of my favorites to collect when I slither outta ancients now and then.

 

Sweet => 100% cool eagle coins!! (I love 'em)

=> please keep 'em comin'!!

 

10 Centavos

.800 Silver Coinage 1905-1914

18mm. 2.5 Grams, .800 Silver, .200 Copper


Reduced Size 1919

15mm, 1.8125g, .800 Silver, .200 Copper
One year only issue



Bronze Coinage 1919-1921, 1935

The rising cost of Silver resulted in the issuse of Bronze coins in October of 1919.

30.5mm, 12g, .950 Copper, .025 Tin, .025 Zinc



.720 Silver Coinage 1925-1935

Silver was resumed in 1925. The coin was the same size as the 1919 issue but with a reduced Silver content and weight.

15mm, 1.66g, .720 Silver, .280 Copper



Copper-Nickel Coinage 1936-1946

Similar to the design of the 5 Centavos utilizing the Aztec Calendar.

23.5mm, 5.5g, .800 Copper, .200 Nickel

 

Bronze coinage 1955-1967

Nine years elapsed since the 10 Centavos was last minted in 1946.
The reverse bears the portrait of Benito Juarez. Juarez was a Zapotec Indian who was President of the Republic during the French intervention.
During that time the French withdrew and Maximilian was captured and executed in 1867.

23.5mm, 5.5g, .950 Copper, .050 Zinc



Copper-Nickel Coinage 1974-1980

A smaller sized coin commenced in 1974 but not released in circulation until 1977.

15mm, 1.485g, .750 Copper, .250 Nickel



Stainless Steel 1992-2008

17mm, 2.080g, Stainless Steel

 

20 Centavos

.800 Silver Coinage 1905-1914

In 1907 the New Orleans Mint struck over 5 Million coins for Mexico. This was the only foreign coin ever struck at the New Orleans Mint. The coins had the Mexico mintmark on them and are identical to the Mexico issues.

22mm, 5g, .800 Silver, .200 Copper


Reduced sized .800 Silver coinage 1919

The increase in cost of Silver resulted in a smaller sized coin in 1919. This was a one-year only issue.

19mm, 3.625g, .800 Silver, .200 Copper



Bronze coinage 1920 and 1935

Due to the rising cost of Silver the 20 Centavos was minted in Bronze in 1920 and again in 1935. Due to the high current cost of the 1920 in a nice example, it has remained elusive to me at this time. High on the wish list.

32.5mm, 15g, .850 Copper, .025 Tin, .025 Zinc




.720 Silver Coinage 1920-1935 1937-1943

A gap existed in 1936 while replaced by the 1935 Bronze coin

19mm, 3.333g, .720 Silver, .280 Copper



Bronze Coinage 1943-1955

A new design was introduced in 1943. The reverse shows the 2 volcanoes, Popocatepetl on the right and Ixtaccihuatl on the left. They are named after the prince and princess in an Indian myth. They fell in love, eloped, and were exiled. They are eternally asleep. Between the 2 mountains is the Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan.

28.5mm 10g, .950 Copper, .010 Tin, .040 Zinc

 

In 1951 Tin was omitted from the alloy

28.5mm, 10g, .950 Copper, .050 Zinc



Redesigned Eagle 1955-1971

In 1955 the eagle was resigned and both obverse eagle were minted that year. The reverse was identical to previous series.



Redesigned eagle 1971-1974

The Eagle was again redesigned for 1971



Copper-Nickel Coinage 1974-1983

The rising cost of Copper resulted in the end of the large Bronze Coins.
The smaller Copper-Nickel coin bears the portrait of President Francisco I. Madero

20mm, 3g, .750 Copper, .250 Nickel



Bronze Coinage 1983-1984

As the Peso continued to depreciate the 20 Centavos was struck in Bronze. The reverse featured a sculptured indian face from the Olmec Culture.

20mm, 3.04g, .850 Copper, .050 Zinc

 

Aluminum Bronze 1992-2009

19.5mm, 3.040g, Aluminum-Bronze



25 Centavos

.300 Silver 1950-1953

The first 25 centavos struck since 1892 had a balance scale design similar to it’s predecessor.

2.15mm, 3.333g, .300 Silver, .500 Copper, .100 Nickel, .100 Zinc



Copper-Nickel 1964-1966

The reverse shows the bust of President Francisco I. Madero

23mm, 5.5g, .750 Copper, .250 Nickel

 

Wonderful additions to the thread, Son.

 

You mentioned you didn't have a nice example of the 1920 20 centavos. Here's mine, though it's not that "nice."