Mexico Miscellaneous

The Libertad coins are silver and gold bullion coins originating from Mexico and minted by the La Casa de Moneda de Mexico (Mexican Mint). The Mexican Mint was established in 1535 and is the oldest mint in the Americas. The modern coins contain 99.9% silver or gold (.999 fineness) and are available in various sizes. Both metal coins have undergone a design change. In 1989, 3,500 1⁄4 ounce Libertad platinum coins were produced. Libertads are devoid of face value, yet are still accepted as currency and guaranteed by Banco de Mexico based on the market value of its gold or silver content.

In addition to the bullion version, a proof and reverse proof versions for both metals are manufactured specifically for collectors. Proof coins contain a frosted angel with a polished background. A reverse proof is the opposite and has a polished angel with a frosted background. An antique finish is available in silver and is also sought out by collectors. An antique finish gives coins an aged appearance without any loss of detail. The antiqued finish usually displays portions that look as if they have toned darker. Proof and antique finish coins are minted in relatively small quantities and are considered more beautiful and valuable than the standard bullion coin.

Silver Bullion Mintage

Year	¹⁄₂₀ Oz	¹⁄₁₀ Oz	¹⁄₄ Oz	¹⁄₂ Oz	1 Oz	2 Oz	5 Oz	1 Kg
1982					1,049,680
1983					1,001,768
1984					1,014,000
1985					2,017,000
1986					1,699,426
1987					500,000
1988					1,500,500
1989					1,396,500
1990					1,200,000
1991	50,017	50,017	50,017	50,618	1,650,518
1992	295,783	299,933	104,000	119,000	2,458,000
1993	100,000	100,000	90,500	90,500	1,000,000
1994	90,100	90,100	90,100	90,100	400,000
1995	50,000	50,000	50,000	50,000	500,000
1996	50,000	50,000	50,000	50,000	300,000	50,000	20,000
1997	20,000	20,000	20,000	20,000	100,000	15,000	10,000
1998	6,400	6,400	6,400	6,400	67,000	7,000	3,500
1999	8,001	8,000	7,000	7,000	95,000	5,000	2,800
2000	57,500	27,500	21,000	20,000	340,000	7,500	4,000
2001	25,000	25,000	25,000	20,000	725,000	6,700	4,000
2002	45,000	35,000	35,000	35,000	850,000	8,700	5,200
2003	50,000	20,000	22,000	28,000	805,000	9,500	6,000
2004	30,000	15,000	15,000	20,000	450,000	8,000	3,923
2005	15,000	9,277	15,000	10,000	698,281	3,549	2,401
2006	20,000	15,000	15,000	15,000	300,000	5,800	3,000
2007	3,500	3,500	3,500	3,500	200,000	8,000	3,000
2008	7,000	10,000	9,000	9,000	950,000	17,000	9,000	2,003
2009	10,000	10,000	10,000	10,000	1,650,000	46,000	21,000	4,000
2010	12,000	12,000	15,500	20,000	1,000,000	14,000	9,500	4,000
2011	15,000	15,000	15,000	30,000	1,200,000	14,000	10,000	6,000
2012		3,300	16,700	17,000	746,400	18,600	10,400	2,300
2013	13,500	18,900	9,600	24,500	774,100	17,400	9,500
2014	5,700	6,350	6,950	23,000	429,200	9,000	6,400
2015	18,400	19,900	17,900	16,000	903,000	20,100	9,500	2,000
2016	22,900	24,400	17,700	30,900	1,437,500	17,600	11,400	2,000
2017	8,550	8,850	8,100	9,050	636,000	8,900	5,050	200
2018	17,900	20,300	18,000	15,500	300,000	20,400	16,600	500
2019	7,350	7,200	5,450	8,500	402,000	18,300	18,000	200
2020	5,450	6,100	4,450	7,600	300,000	5,500	8.900
2021

Design

Obverse: The Coat of arms of Mexico is shown with a Mexican golden eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus devouring a rattlesnake. This imagery relates to the founding of Tenochtitlan, present-day Mexico City. The coat of arms is rooted in the legend where the god Huitzilopotchli told the Aztec people where to build their city where they saw an eagle eating a snake on top of a cactus. The bottom half of the coat of arms has oak and laurel leaves encircling the eagle. The top half has the words Estados Unidos Mexicanos (United Mexican States) encircling the eagle. The gold obverse has not changed since its inception and the silver coin had the same obverse at its inception. In 2000, the silver obverse was changed to depict the current Mexican national coat of arms along with 10 past versions of this symbol surrounding it. The Spanish inscription ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS still surrounds the central coat of arms. The past version of the symbol at the top is found in the Codex Mendoza from 1524.

Reverse: The design used was based on the 1921 gold Centenario, a coin issued to mark the centennial of Mexican independence. The winged Victoria of Angel of Independence is in front with the volcanoes Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl in the background. The weight (ONZA or ounce), date, and purity are also listed. The older Libertad coins show a front-facing view of the angel. The new Libertad series shows a three-quarter side profile of the angel. The gold used the older angel from 1981 through 1999. The silver used the older angel from 1982 through 1995.

Edge Lettering: The 1 Oz Silver Libertad coins had smooth edges and edge lettering from the years 1982 through 1989. Inscribed along the edge was the phrase "INDEPENDENCIA Y LIBERTAD". During these years, the edge lettering produced two distinct varieties depending on which way the coin faced while it was being minted. The Type 1 variety has the edge lettering upside down when winged victor angel is face up. Type 2 varieties from these years have the edge lettering right side up when the angel is facing up. Mintages for the varieties are unknown but seem to be relatively even. From 1990 on, the edges were reeded which eliminated the potential for this variety..

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