(809) Feature Article:
Volume 2 Issue 8: Last Revision:
03/04/07
During the last couple of months we have had numerous questions
about 20Th Century Mexican coins from the readers of
Mexican Coin Magic.
Therefore our leading expert, Kirk Menczer, on this coinage decided we
needed to address this often over-looked area of
Mexican Numismatics. All
of you who enjoy this article should take a minute to email Kirk and thank him
for his hard work! While discussing this article
with another of our contributors, Rod Bates, he suggested telling our readers
about a new discovery coin he found recently. He then proceeded to show me a
nice almost Uncirculated Mo 1910 “Caballito”
1 Peso that is a new and unlisted doubled die on the Horse and
Rider side, which he allowed us to scan and add to this article. Bates further
stated, “Be sure to tell your readers that they should always study their coins
closely, because there are many unlisted discovery coins yet to be found
in all of the modern series of Mexican coins. And it is always exciting to find
one.” Thanks Rod for allowing us to show your new discovery coin here on the
Mexican
Coin
Magic website for the first time and your words of
advice for our readers.
Mo 1810
Caballito Doubled Die
Collecting 20th
Century Mexican Coins
By Kirk Menczer
Without a doubt, coins from 20th
century Estados Unidos de Mexico are the most collected and one of the least
written about area of Mexican coinage. Collecting 20th Century
Type Coins was hugely popular in the 1960-1970’s and continues to be
popular today. The Libertad series in both business and Proof
strikes are a very popular and a surprising difficult collecting area today.
The Pre-Columbian, endangered species and two State series have spawned many new
collectors of 20th Century Mexican coinage; much like the US State
quarter series has in the USA. Finally, there are and always have been numerous
collectors attempting to complete collections by date and denomination including
some by variety. Some of these collectors chose only Brilliant
Uncirculated (BUnc) coins and some nice circulated
coins.
This article doesn’t consider all circulating
series of coins issued after the 1980’s as my knowledge is very limited in that
area.
Type Collecting
Collecting 20th
Century Type coinage is relatively simple in Extra
Fine to almost Uncirculated (XF-aUnc)
condition. All of these coins are readily available and can be located on
eBay for modest prices in a matter of a couple of weeks. None of these
coins should exceed a cost of $50, with the possible exception of the 1919 20
Centavo and 1921 Two Peso, and those would depend upon how
Extra Fine or how aUnc they are. Your total
cost should be well under $500. In choice BUnc the
task is considerably more difficult and expensive, but still achievable. The
keys to this set are the Type 2 One Peso (1918-1919) and
the 1921 Two Peso in fully struck choice BUnc.
Both of these coins can be found in choice aUnc with
relative ease but nice fully struck choice BUnc’s
are rare and expensive ($1,200-$2,000). Some of the other silver coins
are a little pricy such as the 1919 20 Centavo, the One Peso Horse
(Caballito) but even a choice BUnc example is pretty easy to
locate. The non-silver coins in choice BUnc
red/brown can be found with a little patience. Full red might prove very
difficult especially the 1915 One and Two Centavo Zapatista (as
the composition of the metal of these coins seems to make them turn brown very
easily) and the 1920/1935 Twenty Centavo. A small hoard of gem
BUnc 1935 Ten Centavos has made this type
considerably easier in the last few years.
The Libertad Series
Since the first one-ounce
Libertad was issued in 1982 it has been produced every year in business
strikes and Proof in 1983 and 1986 to date. The 1998 is the key in business
strike one ounces and 1983 (mintage 998) is the key in one-ounce Proofs. Several
other years such as 2000 are quite difficult in Proof. Mintages for some of two
and five ounce Proofs are as low as 100, thus driving prices of the rarest
coins to close to $500 and making completion of the tenth ounce to 5 ounce in
business and Proof strike very difficult and time consuming. To attempt to
complete this collection is truly a challenge worth undertaking. There is gold
issued in some years of the LIBERTAD series. The gold coins seldom cost much
over bullion but can be very difficult to locate.
The Pre Columbian Series
The Pre Columbian series,
running some 6 years, starting in 1992 includes one quarter ounce to five ounce
silver pieces and one quarter to one ounce gold pieces. They were issued in both
business and Proof strikes. This is another very difficult series because few,
if any, dealers stocked them all, the coins did not seem to be issued on a
scheduled basis and many were issued in a lull in the collecting of modern
Mexican coinage (1995-1998). Thus few people started the series and kept the
collection up. The inclusion of numerous gold coins in the series further
reduced the collectors trying to complete the entire series. If you want a
challenge where almost no silver coin costs more than $35 over melt and no gold
coin is more than $75 over melt, try this series. But don’t blame me if you get
very frustrated very quickly. The current price of gold makes the bullion cost
of the gold alone in this series well over $10,000.
The State 100 Peso Series
The series of State 100
Peso business strikes and one ounce Proofs and ½ ounce gold coins has been
very popular since its inception in the late 1990s and the Mexican mint has
started a second series of State coins. The 100 Pesos can all be found on
eBay for $20 or under each (they have a $9 face value). The silver Proof
one ounce coins run $35-$45. The bi-metal one-half ounce gold coins are offered
occasionally and the prices vary. To complete the two 100 Peso sets is not
hard. However the brass outer ring of this brass and silver bimetal coin
requires careful storage so the brass won’t turn dark. The Proof one-ounce
silver issues can be found through eBay and a few dealers. The gold will
be much more difficult as few dealers stocked them so once they were issued you
have to locate them on the secondary market which is relatively small.
20th
Century Mexican Coins
Most dates of 20th
Century Mexican coins can be located in choice to Gem
BUnc, but they are not like US coins where you could go to a major
coin show and virtually complete a 20th Century Collection in
BUnc provided you have the financial resources. There are a few dates
that are exceedingly rare in BUnc and may be sold
only once in a generation and then not necessary publicly. There are numerous
dates that are extremely rare in BUnc and may be
offered for sale once every 5-10 years. And there a lot of dates that are
common, and cheap, but extremely difficult to find in red
choice BUnc spot free condition. Their price doesn’t
warrant dealers stocking them so you can look forever and not find a choice
coin. These are the challenges you face when collecting modern Mexican coins by
date in choice BUnc. On the other hand in
Extra Fine condition there are only a few expensive coins and only two
really rare coins.
Counterfeits & Altered Date Coins
Many of the rare 20th
century coins have been counterfeited, while other rare dates see many
altered date-coins, so as to appear to be the rare dates. Most are
easily to identify with a good glass and a little experience.
Nevertheless, when buying expensive coins it is critical to know whom you are
buying from, especially on venues such as eBay.
Commonly altered coins are the 1914 One Peso,
and 1949 One Peso, 1908 Fifty Centavo, 1908
Twenty Centavo, 1931 Five Centavo and 1922 Two
Centavo. I’ve even seen altered 1916 One Centavos and 1954
Five Pesos. Labor is cheap in Mexico, so altering coins can be cost
effective.
Brown, Red Brown and Red Copper Coins
Just as in many US coins, the
value of certain coins can vary enormously between brown, red brown and red.
I’ve tried to note what is available in the various dates, but in many cases
full reds are much rarer than red brown, and in some cases red brown
is the condition consensus grade.
Where
Do You Find 20th Century Mexican Coins?
20th Century
Mexican coins are the one area where you can find a lot of material at shows and
on eBay. A lot of third party graded 20th Century
Mexican coins find their way to eBay as well as a lot of raw material.
The prices vary widely and there are some bargains to be had in all grades from
Extra Fine 45 to MS 66.
EBay is a caveat emptor (buyer beware) environment so you have to be very
careful whom you buy from. Nevertheless, to complete a high-grade collection one
will surely have to deal with one or more of the major national dealers and/or
auction houses. There are just too many condition rare coins that
simply won’t be offered on fixed price lists or eBay in the next 5 years,
so a public auction and/or a major dealer is your only hope if you aspire to
complete a date set in high grade over that type of time range.
What does “all available” mean?
In the context of the balance
of this article, this term means the coin is known to exist in the grade
mentioned. The coin could be common to unique. All 20th
Century Mexican coin dates are know to exist in choice BUnc.
However, to my knowledge three are unique in that grade. So while it is
theoretically possible you could complete a collection in choice
BUnc, it’s not likely. There are a number of other coins that are
extremely rare in choice BUnc and may
come to market on once every 5-10 years. I’ve tried to give some guidance as to
what I considered a collectible grade for a premium grade collection to
be completed in the 5–10 years range.
Varieties
Far the most part I’ve limited
this discussion to listed varieties and a few “major” unlisted
varieties. Believe me when I tell you there are numerous major varieties yet to
be discovered, especially in the base metal coins. There 100’s of other
varieties such as double dies, cuds and die variations already known and 100’s
of new ones to be discovered. Within the last week a 1910 “Caballito” double
die has been revealed. It seems impossible this coin hasn’t been discovered
yet. But remember, if the variety isn’t already known, few people look for it.
Examine your coins closely; you’ll be amazed what you discover. Variety coins
can make 20th Mexican coin collecting a very intellectually
challenging and fun area that does not require a ton of money.
Errors
I would be remiss if I failed
to tell you 10’s of thousands of “errors”
that were made in the 1975-1985 period. You will see double struck coins,
triple struck coins, and coins on wrong denomination blanks, full brockages,
clipped coins and just about any other possibility you can think of. These used
to sell for less than a dollar. Now the error
denominations and traditionally “rare” type errors are bringing much more on
eBay, as the buyers are not aware of the abundance of these coins. If you
decide to collect them just realize they are not rare or even scarce.
Set a price you are willing to pay by type of
error and stick with it. These are not cases of “I may never see
this coin again”. Trust me, you will.
Errors in other time periods are quite
collectible and have the rarity you would expect of such errors.
Now let's talk about each type and the various
dates therein.
One Centavo:
1905-1949
All coins are known in
nice BUnc. In full red the 1916, 1920 and 1922 are very
rare, so nice red browns should be considered. The 1924/3 is very
rare in red BUnc any nice BUnc brown or red
brown should be considered; the 1927/6 turns up in red BUnc
regularly.
Catalog pricing is about right for red
BUnc’s. The three coins mentioned above would most likely sell for well
over catalog in full red BUnc. There is a 1942/1, which is
unlisted and it is very rare in any grade.
Key dates are overpriced in the catalog
in Fine to Extra Fine, as there are
many more coins available than there are collectors chasing them.
One Centavo
Zapatista Issue: 1915
This very
popular coin is very difficult to find fully struck in red BUnc
but they are known to exist. Such a coin would bring well over catalog. Softly
struck BUnc’s in red brown and circulated coins are
plentiful for under catalog. A fully struck red brown would be great
coin.
One Centavo:
1950-1969
All are
available in choice BUnc. Price isn’t the problem, finding the
really nice coin requires patience. They are not as easy as you would think to
find.
One Centavo:
1970-1973
My comments are the same
as 1950-1969 One Centavos, except these smaller coins are a little
easier to fine. The 1973 and 1972 OverDate coins are overpriced in the
catalog.
Two Centavo:
1905-1941
All,
except the 1922, are available in red BUnc with patience. Expect
to pay full catalog for a nice red BUnc 1905, over catalog for
nice red BUnc 1906/inverted 6.
If you find a fully struck BUnc
1922 expect to pay at least triple catalog but don’t hold your breath as
I am only aware of one BUnc coin and it’s in a private
collection. An Extra Fine 45 with full snake
is about the best you can hope to find and you’ll have to pay at least full
catalog to have a chance at it.
All are available in Extra
Fine 45 at catalog or less (except the 1922), often for way less
than catalog.
Two Centavo:
1915
I’m not
sure I’ve ever seen a full red BUnc but red brown BUnc’s
are available. This coin in Extra Fine to aUnc
is common.
Five Centavo:
1905-1914
This is a
difficult series to find nice non-baggy BUnc coins. The 1907 and
1909 and 1912 (both varieties) are very rare in choice
BUnc. A nice MS 61-62 should be
considered. The 1906/5 is way under rated and a very rare
coin. It is a prize in any clean undamaged condition. I’m not
aware of a single aUnc or BUnc. The specific dates
mentioned above would bring over catalog in choice BUnc.
A choice BUnc overdate would bring over $1,000
easily.
All except the overdate are available in
aUnc 53-55 at a little over Extra Fine
catalog price with patience
Bronze Five Centavo:
1914-1935
Full red BUnc’s
are extremely rare for the 1931, 1917, 1919, 1918, and 1916. I
only know of one BUnc 1931 and it’s in a private collection.
Richard Long sold a red BUnc 1917 a few years ago at auction for $
1,500-1,700 I don’t remember exactly. You should settle for a red brown
BUnc for the 1916-1919. The 1917 will be the hardest. Even a choice
brown in these dates would be very desirable. The 1931’s were all weakly struck
on the snake and “wear” shows almost immediately. The best you have to hope for
is what I would call a Very Fine 38. That’s a
nice chocolate brown coin where just the smallest part of the snake is not
full. To me both edges of the snake must be complete for the coin to grade
Extra Fine. I’ve seen a couple of these. One was in an NGC
AU-55 holder!! The 1931 seems to be plagued with slightly damaged coins,
especially small rim bumps. Full Extra Fine 45
to aUnc 58 may be coins you would want to seriously
consider in the tough dates. The BUnc’s could easily take a
lifetime to find or might turn up next week.
Five Centavo:
1936-1942
All are available in
choice BUnc. Be patient. All are easily found in Extra
Fine-aUnc
Five Centavo:
1942-1955
A full red
BUnc 1942 is very rare. Red brown can be found with
patience. Easily found in Extra Fine-aUnc,
except the 1942, which may take some patience.
Five Centavo:
1950
Available in choice
BUnc, circulated coins are very common.
Brass Five
Centavo: 1954-1969
Nice spot
free choice BUnc’s can be very difficult to find,
even the very inexpensive dates. The 1954 (with dot) is substantially harder to
find in choice BUnc than the 1954 (no dot) and in
fact is very rare in choice BUnc. All
can be found in decent Uncirculated grades. Catalog prices are
about right.
Copper-Nickel Five Centavo:
1960, 1962, and 1965
These were
non-authorized coins or errors or
“made to order”. There were dates struck other than just those listed in the
catalog. They are popular and rare but it is questionable, in my mind,
whether they should be called regular issues and listed as “coins” or as
trial strikes.
Brass Five
Centavo: 1970-1976
All are
available in choice BUnc with patience. These coins
spot easily and you can look at a lot of BUnc’s before you find a
choice clean example. Prices are all cheap.
Ten Centavo:
1905-1914
All are
available in choice BUnc. The 1907/6 is correctly
cataloged as the most difficult date to find. Catalogs prices are about right.
There is an unlisted 1913 9/3, which is rare in choice
BUnc but it’s a good cherry picking candidate. The only 1913/2 I
have ever seen was extremely faint and I wouldn’t have listed it as
such. If it exists, as a strong and obvious 3/2, it is extremely
rare and worth multiples of catalog.
Ten Centavo:
1919
This coin is ready
available in choice BUnc at catalog price or less.
It is common and cheap in aUnc.
Copper Ten
Centavo: 1919-1935
The 1935
is the only date, which regularly turns up in red choice
BUnc. The 1921 and 1919 are very rare in red choice
BUnc. The 1920 is rare in red choice
BUnc. A nice XF-aUnc coin may be the best
you can hope to find if time is a constraint. Nice red BUnc’s
would bring over catalog in the three rare years Nice red brown
Uncirculated coins would easily bring full catalog. Nice aUnc’s
with luster will generally sell closer to Uncirculated prices than
XF.
Ten Centavo:
1925-1935
All,
except the 1926/16 can be found in choice BUnc with
patience. The 1926/16 is a newer listing and I’m not sure how rare
it really is, but I believe it may be worth well over catalog.
Ten Centavo:
1936-1946
Choice
BUnc’s are available for all dates, but it will take time and
patience to find red, spot free, fully struck examples.
Ten Centavo:
1955-1967
Comments are the same as
the previous type except strike is no problem.
Ten Centavo:
1974-1980
Patience, not money is
required to find choice red BUnc fully struck
examples of these coins.
Twenty
Centavo: 1905-1914
With
patience all, except the 1908, are available in choice BUnc.
The Catalog accurately reflects their rarity. I only know of only one
BUnc 1908, which is a choice proof like BUnc
and it is in a private collection. An aUnc 50-55 is the most you
can hope find for this date. The other dates are readily available in XF-aUnc
at catalog or less.
Twenty
Centavo: 1919
This date is available in
choice BUnc and is common in XF.
Twenty
Centavo: 1920-1943
All are available in
choice BUnc with patience. All are common in
XF-aUnc except the 1926/5.
Twenty
Centavo: 1943-1955
Choice
red BUnc’s without spots can be found. Don’t try to get in a
hurry. All are common in XF.
Twenty
Centavo: 1955-1971
Choice
red BUnc’s without spots can be found. Don’t try to get in a
hurry. All are common in XF.
Twenty
Centavo: 1971-1973
All can be found in
choice BUnc.
Twenty
Centavo: 1974-1983
All can be
found in choice BUnc, but the varieties can be very
difficult to find, as they don’t catalog for enough money for the dealers to get
interested. The one exception is the 1981/2. This coin in choice
BUnc is difficult to find and expensive. It is easily worth full
catalog in choice BUnc. Even in XF-aUnc
it is a worthwhile coin. The 1983 Proof comes from the 1982-3 Proof Sets and is
easy to find, as many sets were broken up for the Proof Libertad.
Twenty
Centavo: 1983-1984
Both
business strikes are available in choice BUnc. The
Proof coins are rare. I’m not sure the correct mintage is only
53 pieces, but it certainly doesn’t turn up every day. Watch the auctions
and eBay for this coin.
Twenty Five Centavo:
1950-1953
Finding
choice BUnc’s are much harder to find than they are to
pay for. The same problem of having enough coins to look at is the rub. The
price doesn’t justified stocking them.
Twenty Five
Centavo: 1964-1966
All are available in
choice BUnc.
Fifty Centavo:
1905-1919
All are
available in choice BUnc with patience. A small
hoard of 1908s came out about five years and several MS-65 and
MS-66’s were slabbed. One of these will cost you at least
$1,500-$2,000. Before the hoard they were impossible find in that
grade. The 1916 has two varieties: (1) One has a Normal 1st
1 (2) The second has an inverted 1st 1 over a Normal
1. They are about equally rare. The catalog prices are about right except for
the 1908. All are available in XF at or below catalog. The
1913/07 is hard to find in all grades.
Fifty
Centavo: 1918-1919
All turn
up in choice BUnc occasionally. The overdate is
rare in BUnc but the catalog is a little high in my opinion.
The non over dates are common in XF. The 8/7 is collectible even
in XF-aUnc.
Fifty
Centavo: 1919-1945
A
choice BUnc 1938 will take patience but they are out
there. The others turn up regularly. None are a problem in XF.
Fifty
Centavo: 1935
It’s available in
choice BUnc and common in circulated grades.
Fifty
Centavo: 1950-1951
These are
available in choice BUnc but don’t expect to find
them at every show you attend. Available means that with some effort on your
part they will become available to you in relatively short period of time such
as 12 months or less. These are common in XF.
Fifty
Centavo: 1955-1959
Full red BUnc’s
will take some looking, but you’ll find them. They are common in
XF.
Fifty
Centavo: 1964-1969
All are available in
choice BUnc. Circulated grades are common.
Fifty
Centavo: 1970-1983
Finding
the cheap varieties in choice BUnc can be difficult,
as most dealers don’t stock these inexpensive coins. The 1977 “rare”
date had a large hoard appear about 8 years ago. It’s readily available in
choice BUnc at well under catalog. Just watch eBay.
The 1983 Proof is easily found as many of the proof sets were broken up for
the1983 Libertad.
Fifty
Centavo: 1983
The
business strike is common and the Proof is difficult, but turns up more
often that you would think with a mintage of 53. Watch the auction houses.
“Caballito” One Peso:
1910-1914
All are
available in choice BUnc. The 1911 short ray and
1914 are both rare in choice BUnc; the short
ray being the more difficult to find in choice condition. They could easily run
$2,000-$3,000 for a choice coin. There are a few 1910 proof-like coins
that are especially beautiful and hard to find. The 1911 and 1912 also come
proof-like if that’s your thing. All are available in XF for less
than $100, except the 1914, which should be $700-900. Nice aUnc’s
are available, but cost more, especially the 1911 short ray and 1914. Because
these coins are all over $100 in nice BUnc, dealers put them out
if they have them and you should be able to find most in a relatively short
period of time. The choice 1910 proof-like, the choice 1911 short
ray and the choice 1914 might take longer. In fact you may never locate a
choice 1911 short ray. You may have to settle for a BUnc
baggy MS 61-62.
One Peso:
1918-1919
Both are
available in choice BUnc. These two coins are the
most consistently over graded 20th
Century Mexican coins by the third party grading services. Be especially careful
when relying on third party grading on these coins. A truly choice
BUnc (MS 63-64-65) is a $1,200-$2,000
coin. But an aUnc 58 is only a $150-200 coin. There are a
lot aUnc 58’s in MS 61, 62 and even
63 holders. In XF these coins are common and sell for
less than $50. There have been a large number of 1918 One Pesos
misattributed as 8/7’s. I’ve seen many of these coins and believe it’s a small
die chip and not an 8/7. It’s still an interesting die variety, but doesn’t
have the pizzazz a true over date has.
One Peso:
1920-1945
All dates
are available in choice BUnc except the 1921
9/inverted 9. All 1920 2/1’s I’ve seen are softly struck. A fully struck
choice BUnc would be extremely rare
and quite valuable. There is a 1921 with the 9 over an inverted 9. It’s
very scarce coin in aUnc and very rare
in choice BUnc. Don’t pass up an aUnc-50
or better. The alleged 1933/2 is a great mystery to me. I’ve heard it’s the
1st 3/2, but I’ve never seen a clear 3/2 on either three.
I’ve seen many repunched 3’s and a few tiny nicks and ticks around the three,
but never anything I would call a clear 3/2. This is not to say it doesn’t
exist. I’m saying it is extremely rare, if it does
exist. There is an unlisted 1934/3, which is rare but is turning
up more frequently now that people are looking for it. An aUnc-55
or better would be a good coin but you’d be just as likely to find a
choice BUnc.
One Peso:
1947-1949
All are
available in choice BUnc. Although the 1949, in
business and Proof strikes, are expensive, they tend to be offered at auction at
lease once a year, so price is the only real problem. Beware of choice
sliders offered as BUnc’s; few of these coins circulated for any
length of time so there are many choice aUnc’s
around. The 1949 turns up in XF occasionally, and in aUnc
often, if you are economy minded. But even then they won’t be cheap.
One Peso:
1950
The coin is available in
choice BUnc and aUnc’s are common.
Constitution One Peso: 1957
The coin is available in
choice BUnc and aUnc’s are common.
One Peso:
1957-1967
All are
available in choice BUnc. Because the silver is
layered on this coin spotting can be problem, but with patience you’ll find them
all. All dates in circulated grades are common.
One Peso:
1970-1983
All
available, but due to cheap prices, access to enough coins to find choice
BUnc’s including varieties is a real problem.
One Peso:
1984-1987
All are
available in choice BUnc. The Proof 1987 is very
rare as only two are known according to today’s catalog.
Two Peso:
1921
This coin
is available in BUnc MS 60, 61 and 62
with no problem. Choice BUnc MS 63 to
65 exist and turn up regularly. Fully struck on the eagle’s knee MS
63 to 65’s are rare. Prices jump from $150 for BUnc
MS-62 to $1,500-2,000 for a fully stuck MS 64 to
65. If you’re building a world class set I suggest you get
professional help with this coin as you could easily overpay for a coin that
isn’t fully struck. This coin in XF-aUnc is
common.
Five Peso,
Ten Peso, Twenty Peso, Twenty Five Peso, Fifty Peso, etc.
All the
regular issue silver coins, of Five Pesos and above, are readily
available in choice BUnc and at close to melt for
circulated examples. The Rail Road, 1954 Five Peso and
Constitution Ten Peso have some premium in circulated condition.
The base metal issues are difficult only to the extent it’s hard the find
inventory to examine. They are not expensive and consequently are often not
stocked. Once again location of a choice coin, not the price will be the
problem for all base metal issues.
Circulating Gold Coins
The circulating gold coins of
the twentieth century is one my favorite collecting areas. What makes it so much
fun is that almost all dates are readily available in circulated condition, but
are very scarce to extremely rare in choice grade.
Often when you do find them in choice grade there is
only small, not a large, price jump. The price jump rarely reflects the actual
rarity in grade. There are no rare dates in circulated
condition except the 1947 2½ Peso. The 1920 Ten Peso is very
scarce and sells for a premium, even in circulated condition. The
1921 and 1931 Fifty Peso sells for a premium over
melt even in circulated condition, but are not hard to find.
Gold Two
Peso: 1919-1948
All can be found in
choice BUnc. The 1919 is the toughest to find.
Gold 2½ Peso:
1918-1948
The 1947
is by far the rarest coin, but it comes really nice about half the time.
The 1918, 1919 and 1920/10 are all difficult to find choice
BUnc.
Gold 5 Peso:
1905-1955
The 1906
and 1955 are the only ones that come choice BUnc on
a regular basis. Of the others the 1905 is rare but turns up
occasionally, the 1918/7 and 1910 are very scarce and 1907, 1918,
1919 and 1920 are scarce in choice BUnc.
Gold Ten
Peso: 1905-1959
The 1920
is very rare in choice BUnc and would
sell for multiples of book. A 1920 in XF should sell for way under
book. The 1905 is rare in choice BUnc
although they turn up occasionally. But don’t expect to buy it at catalog.
The 1905 brings a small premium in XF-aUnc. The
1916 is rare in choice BUnc, and worth well over
book. In XF-aUnc it’s only a hair over common.
The other non-restrike dates are all difficult in choice
BUnc and should be snapped up if anywhere near restrike prices.
Gold Twenty
Peso: 1917-1959
All are
common as dates and in aUnc to MS-62 condition.
MS 64 to 65’s are rare. They also rarely appear
fully struck. Putting together a really choice set is an
incredible challenge. All of the 1920 and 1921’s are the OverDate 2/1. There
are no Normal Dates.
Gold Fifty
Peso: 1921-1947
If you
want to play the ultimate 20th Century Mexican gold game, try to
complete this set in MS-65. To my knowledge it hasn’t be done to date,
and I know several people who are trying. At Anaheim a few weeks ago I saw a
complete set in NGC MS-63 for few hundred dollars over
melt!!! So you can see the “men get separated from the boys” very quickly
between these two grades. I don’t generally advocate collecting “grade” rarity,
but this appears to be a case where the really high-grade coins are in fact
very rare and there appears to be a market for them. As you might
expect, the 1943-1947 coins are much easier to find in MS-65 than are the
1921-1931 coins.
In Conclusion:
I hope you’ve enjoyed this
discussion of 20th Century Mexican coins, and it gives you some idea
of what I believe to be the “state of the market today”. Hopefully this article
will make your collecting experience more enjoyable and rewarding. I can be
reached at
mexcoins@flash.net should you have and questions are comments.