Mexico is widely recognized as the world's leading silver producer. This rich heritage is reflected in its diverse coinage, which includes high-purity issues from the 19th century and lower-purity circulating coins from the mid-20th century. Unlike the United States or Canada, Mexico continued to strike silver for circulation well into the 1960s.
Mexican silver is highly prized for its unique "Ley" system. This standard often involves stamping the silver fineness directly onto the coin's design, as seen on the "Ley .720" issues. From the beautiful "Caballito" Peso to the high-purity Hidalgo types, these coins remain a staple for stackers around the globe.
| Coin Type | Purity | Years | ASW (oz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Pesos (Olympic) | 72.0% | 1968 | 0.5209 |
| 10 Pesos (Hidalgo) | 90.0% | 1955-1956 | 0.8357 |
| 5 Pesos (Aztec / Cuauhtémoc) | 90.0% | 1947-1948 | 0.8681 |
| 5 Pesos (Hidalgo) | 72.0% | 1951-1954 | 0.6431 |
| 5 Pesos (Carranza) | 72.0% | 1959 | 0.4179 |
| 1 Peso (Caballito) | 90.3% | 1910-1914 | 0.7860 |
| 1 Peso (Ley .720) | 72.0% | 1920-1945 | 0.3858 |
| 1 Peso (Morelos) | 50.0% | 1947-1949 | 0.2251 |
| 1 Peso (Tepalcate) | 10.0% | 1957-1967 | 0.0514 |
| 50 Centavos (Resplandor) | 90.3% | 1863-1905 | 0.3923 |
| 50 Centavos (Hidalgo) | 80.0% | 1905-1918 | 0.3215 |
| 50 Centavos | 72.0% | 1919-1945 | 0.1929 |
| 20 Centavos (Resplandor) | 90.3% | 1863-1905 | 0.1569 |
| 20 Centavos | 80.0% | 1919-1943 | 0.0857 |
| 10 Centavos (Resplandor) | 90.3% | 1863-1905 | 0.0785 |
| 10 Centavos | 72.0% | 1905-1945 | 0.0386 |
| 8 Reales (Cap and Rays) | 90.3% | 1823-1897 | 0.7860 |
