Hello all! Your forum is so very interesting!! My brother-in-law brought me a coin he found in a roll of nickels that is gold with a scalloped edge on it. One one side it has the eagle fighting the snake and says "Estados Unidos Mexicanos". The other side has a large 50 (with the cent mark beside it), a wreath looking design around the bottom edge and the date of 1887 at the top. I have looked the web over and cannot find out what this is. I assume it is a Mexican coin of course, but cannot find any other info on it. Does anyone know what it is or if it is just "another mexican coin". Be gentle this may be a silly question. LOL Thanks so much, Abbee
Welcome to the forum Abbee!!! I dont know alot about Mexican coinage but someone here will have an answer for you shortly.
Yes that coin! Yes that is it except my date says 1887. So I have an everyday coin or is it special in some way? Any value? Thanks so much!
Welcome to Coin Talk Abbee. There is nothing silly about your question. At first blush after reading your description I assumed that you had a 50 centavo piece, but on checking the Standard Catalog of World Coins, 19th Century 3rd Ed., I found that the silver 1887 50 centavos (KM#407-407.8 depending on mint mark) doesn't come close to matching the description. That coin is shown with the date at the bottom of the obverse (front) below an Eagle with the legend "Republica Mexico" above. The reverse design has balance scales under a Liberty cap, and the legend "50 Centavos" followed by a mint mark and ".9027" indicating the fineness of the Silver. Actually, I suspect that either you have a fantasy piece, or you have mis-stated the date. The first coinage of the "Estados Unidos Mexicanos" ( United States of Mexico} was dated 1905, and included in that initial coinage was a silver 50 centavos (KM#445) that does match your description. The same design, with minor variations, was used through 1935 on coins of increasingly smaller weight, Try posting a picture of both sides of your coin and perhaps we can more closely identify it.. Edited to add: While I was typing others were responding. The coin pictured was minted only from 1992 on, so you either have a fake or an altered piece. The genuine coins are 22mm wide, minted in Aluminum-Bronze.
Here is a picture of the back side with the 1887 on it. You would know my first outing would be a fake...How do they do that...lol It doesn't have any scratches or marks around the date at all. And for my next silly question-What is a fantasy piece? Thank you for all the kind welcomes!! What nice people you are!!
Well - the good news: its not a fake. Then the bad (?) news: the date is 1997! Some fonts can be pretty difficult to read. Its even worse with ancient coins, I have one wear the letter N is III !
I have exact same coin and under magnification Sure looks like 1887. So does that mean mine is fantasy as well? Does that mean counterfeit? This was used as currency when I received it. Thank you, really enjoyed your reply.
Looks more like post mint damage to me. It might be a die chip though. The lower part of 9 has been connected to the top. It damaged, the value is minimal.
