1 Peso Silver Coins From Mexico: 0.1000 Silver ?!

The composition is 10% silver, 70% copper, 10% Nickel, 10% Zinc. The silver content is so low that the coin is silver-plated.

In Mexico they are mainly smelted for silver. Nowadays, on a 28-30 dlls ounce of silver you can get between 80 cents to 1 dollar for each.

They have numismatic value when uncirculated, like the 1962 you show, maybe 2-3 dollars in Mexico, in Europe don't know.

I have seen in the CBG site that a Mexican modern 5 pesos coin (around half a dollar) reach prices of 1-3 euros. So, how could you determine a fair market value? Well, maybe by the price you paid.

I agree, do not melt unless the coin is severely damaged (cull). Mexican Pesos are cool, who would not want one. There are other good metals in them, kind of like a metal burrito, lol. (124) Not Allowed - Auto-Removed has been saying that he is working on a Mexico page for some time now.

Kingz If you like them - that is really all that counts. You are not a coin dealer.

There are two different mind sets today. Making money and the Love of the coins themselves. I fall primarily into the latter category given that I collect counterfeit and altered coins most people consider to be worthless. But that is a different story.

I have been collecting since the mid 1950s so I have seen the transition from "Numismatist" to "Speculative Investor" happen. I remember when Uncirculated had only two grades UNC and BU. There was no Sheldon scale and no STUPIDLY high prices for rarities created by the rating scale. I never cared for Unc coins anyway - I always liked a nice VF or EF it had circulated and the toning made the details stand out - EYE APPEAL was important not technical grade. Coins that look like they were made yesterday could have been made yesterday but a beautiful original patina seen on a 200 year old silver coin that has circulated lightly is impossible to duplicate.

Yesterday, I went to Burger King and paid with Dollar coins ( Eisenhower dollars). The little girl at the counter didn't know they were money and had to check with the manager before she accepted them. I think they will disappear now. GOOD. Maybe they will go home and get a new collector interested. So were they worthless?

People need to collect coins for the joy of collecting and LEARNING about history not always just to make a buck.

Before anyone has a hissy fit - I have also spent years working for and as a dealer so I do understand the market place. Dealers do have a place, but in my heart (not my head) I do echo the sentiment of palaniappan who wants to save history. These coins will never be made again and should be preserved by people that love them.

These coins represent the end of a era. These were the last of the Mexican Silver coinage issued for circulation, somewhat akin to the JFK 40%ers unless you count the mid 90's $10 peso issue which had a .925 silver center.

that 20 peso had a hair over .48 ounce gold content, or 16.88 gold value back then. In those days, the biggies were sovereigns, 100 (K)corona, Mexican 2-50 pesos, roosters and similar size coins and of course US $20. Krands captured the market when they became legal to import, due to easy calculations.

I can remember when $1000 would get you 100-111 sovereigns, just run through the coin counter set on nickel size. I knew a guy who had a change maker that would hold up to double eagle coins.

10 oz would contain 1 oz of silver, new. Getting $100/oz would be cool.

What do you think of today's PM prices?

I got one of those for a buck or two, they are nice looking coins and interesting historical footnotes. Regarding the issue of melting, I think lower grade examples of coins are fine for melting ethically, but I have been known to save coins *I* consider important from my dealers smelting baggies! (1964 JFK's, 1967 Canadian Silver, etc).

There is enough of these coins out there that the relatively small numbers melted will only increase the prices of the remaining ones, which is a win-win for everyone.

The copper nickel zinc core of a 100 fine silver peso shows up wery obviiously when the coin is worn.

Even so, with only 100 fine silver, the silver value is still around a buck fifty.