Mexico Silver Peso Inflation Set, BU

Silver Peso Coinage of Mexico

We've assembled this unique four-coin set to showcase some of the wonderful silver peso coinage of Mexico. In addition, these coins illustrate the profound erosion of purchasing power that comes with monetary inflation. No other post-World-War-II coinage shows inflation as starkly as these Mexico Silver 4-Coin Inflation Sets.

With fiat currency, the loss of purchasing power can be difficult to appreciate. With these classic silver coins, however, it is simple to see by comparing their rising denominations to their shrinking silver content. In the 30 years between the issuance of the 5 Peso Cuauhtemoc in 1947 and the 100 Peso Morelos in 1977, face value increased by a whopping 2,000% while silver content in the coins decreased by 35%!

Beautiful Framed Display

Each coin in the set has its own fascinating story to tell. All are hand-selected for outstanding eye-appeal and collectability in Brilliant Uncirculated condition. They come in a special framed holder that may be hung on a wall or placed on a desk or table for a beautiful display.

This is a specialty item. Please allow two weeks for delivery.

Included in Set:

The 1947-48 5 Peso Cuauhtemoc is a classic, old-timey coin in every way. It celebrates the memory of the Aztec ruler who valiantly fought Cortes and his Spanish invaders in 1521, but was captured and ultimately executed by Cortes in 1525. The powerful portrait of Chief Cuauhtemoc (which means "one that has descended like an eagle") graces the obverse and the traditional Mexican eagle-eating-snake-on-cactus design (common to all four of these coins) is on the reverse. Like most world silver trading coins minted since the 1800s, it is big, containing almost an ounce of pure silver (.8681 oz. of pure silver by weight).

Eight years later, the 1956-57 10 Peso Hidalgo was issued. This the last of the large 90% silver coins from Mexico, containing .8356 ounces of pure silver--slightly less than the 5 peso Cuauhtemoc from 1947 despite having twice the face value. Featuring the portrait of Hidalgo on the obverse and the iconic eagle-eating-snake-on-cactus image on the reverse, this coin celebrates the life of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (1753-1811,) the Jesuit priest who rose up against Spain in 1810, launching the Mexican War of Independence. For most of 1810 and through early 1811, he commanded an army of 100,000 insurgents, but was ultimately captured and executed by royalist forces in 1811.

Celebrating the 1968 Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City, the 25 Peso Olympic brought significant changes to the silver currency of Mexico. The face value jumped 250% (from 10 to 25 pesos) while the silver content fell 32% (from .8356 to .5208 ounces of pure silver per coin.) The purity was also diminished, from 90% pure silver by weight to 72%. The obverse features a classic Mexican dancer and the traditional five Olympic rings, while the reverse features a stand-out version of the traditional eagle eating snake on cactus.

By 1977, the monetary inflation in Mexican coinage became extreme. With the 100 Peso Morelos, the pure silver content increased a modest 22%, from .5208 to .6430 ounces, while face value jumped 400%, from 25 to 100 pesos! A contemporary of Hidalgo, Jose Maria Morelos filled the leadership vacuum left by the great man's death in the early 19th century. Morelos was a brilliant military commander and strategist who one 22 victories over Spain in 1811. As part of the Mexican Congress, he endorsed the "Sentiments of the Nation," formally declaring Mexican independence from Spain in 1813. In 1815 Morelos was caught by the Spanish and executed for treason.