1821 & 1929 Mexican 50 Pesos Gold Coins

The largest bullion coin ever produced by the famed La Casa de Moneda de Mexico, or Mexico Mint, proves to be the 50 pesos gold coin. Aside from its face value, this rare coin has very little to do with its bank note counterpart, the 50 peso note—which happened to win the 2021 Bank Note of the Year Award. At 20 percent larger size than the comparable American Gold Eagle coin, this stellar coin is an efficient way to add substantial gold to your holdings with only a single piece purchase.

Mexican Peso Gold Coins Background and History

As far as Mexican gold coins go, coin collectors and investors alike have always liked the larger Mexican 50 peso denominations. They are affectionately referred to as “centenarios” because of their anniversary which corresponds with the hundred year memorial of independence from Spain that Mexico secured at last in 1821. These beautiful and historically important pieces were designed by Emilio del Moral.

They were first issued from 1921 to 1931, then once again from 1943 to 1972 by the Mexican Mint due to their overwhelming popularity.

La Casa de Moneda de Mexico has struck Mexican coins since 1535, the year when Spanish Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza first established the venerable institution. This remains the original and oldest mint facility and establishment in the Americas. The stunning 50 Pesos Gold coins feature important symbols from the Colonial and Mesoamerican eras of the country.

Because of the popularity of these centenario gold coins, the Mexican Mint restarted its production of the coins from 1943 to 1972. In fact, the Mexican Mint produced a whopping 4 million of them during this period.

The overwhelming majority of these reissued Pesos were minted with a 1947 restrike year. The Banco de Mexico authorized them all to be official legal tender, a status they retain to this day. These coins were issued in Brilliant Uncirculated condition originally and now come in a condition range of from Almost Uncirculated to Brilliant Uncirculated.

Mexican Peso Gold Coins Physical Characteristics

There are various denominations of Mexican Peso Gold coins. These include:

• 50 pesos at 1.2057 troy ounces
• 20 pesos at .4823 troy ounces
• 10 pesos at .2411 troy ounces
• five pesos at .1205 troy ounces
• 2.5 pesos at .0602 troy ounces
• two pesos at .0482 troy ounces

The most popular and heavily minted are the 50 Pesos gold coins. These are also the largest of the Mexican Gold coins ever produced.

Coin Design

The front side of all coins is known as the obverse.  The obverse of the 50 Pesos Gold coins highlights the image of Winged Victory, the beloved angel of independence, holding a laurel wreath within her right hand and the broken chains of colonialism within her left hand. In the background, two important Mexican volcanoes rise, Popocatepetl and Iztaccihautl. In the lower left, the year 1821 is inscribed as the year of the independence of Mexico. The actual mintage year is displayed prominently on the right.

The back side of the coins is always referred to as the “reverse.” The coin reverse boasts the famed Mexican Coat of Arms. It is represented by an eagle which perches on a cactus and carries a serpent within its beak. Almost four million of these coins were struck in the second series from 1949 to 1972. The overwhelming majority of them were struck with a 1947 date. These are known as “restrikes.” Earlier 50 Peso coins come with higher premiums than do these restrikes. Coins made in the 1921 to 1931 years carry significantly heftier premiums over gold prices.

Specifications

The 50 Pesos Mexican Gold coins are the most popular the country's Mexico City National Mint ever struck and released. Their specifications are as follows:

• Mass:  1.2057 troy oz
• Diameter: 37.1 mm
• Thickness:  2.69 mm
• Content: 1.085 troy oz. actual gold content
• Purity: 90.0% gold, 10% copper alloy