If you’re looking for a rare and special coin to add to your growing collection, then you should consider the Mexican Gold Peso. Though this coin hasn’t been minted since the 70s, collectors who are willing to do a little treasure hunting can still find a reasonably priced gold peso to add to their collection.
Here are some interesting facts about the Mexican Gold Peso:
About the Gold Peso
The Mexico City Mint produced gold pesos from the early 1900s until the 1970s. The Mexican mint is the oldest mint in the Western hemisphere—it was first opened in 1535 by the Spanish.
At the time of its production, the peso was considered to be the purest gold coin on earth; it’s minted of .900 fine gold. The rest of the coin is made of copper, which makes it both very durable and larger than similar coins.
The coins came in denominations ranging from 2 pesos to 50 pesos. These days, the 2 peso and 2.5 peso coins are the most affordable for young collectors.
Design of the Gold Peso
The age of gold pesos, along with their designs, may remind you of ancient pirate treasure! Here are some other observations about the coins:
- Obverse/Front: The design on the front of the coin depends on the denomination. The 2 peso coin reads “Dos Pesos,” surrounded by a wreath of laurel. The 2.5, 5 and 10 peso coins feature the portrait of Don Miguel Hidalgo, a priest and father of Mexican Independence.The 20 and 50 peso coins are more intricate. Twenty peso coins bear a detailed picture of the Aztec calendar, while the 50 peso coin shows the Angel of Independence before two of Mexico’s most famous volcanoes, Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl. The front of all these coins also bears the year of issue.
- Reverse/Back: The back of the gold peso shows the Mexican Coat of Arms, which is an eagle sitting on top of a cactus with a snake in its beak. The ancient Aztecs built their legendary city, Tenochtitlan, on the spot where they saw the eagle on the cactus. Now, Mexico City exists where this ancient city once stood. The words “Estados Unidos Mexicanos” (the United Mexican States) curve around the upper part of the coin.
The Mexican Gold Peso can be a little hard to find, but it’s definitely a high quality gold coin that’s a sound investment and that will make you feel like you’ve got a little bit of history in your pocket.