Mexico 1940-M 20 centavos
The first specimen was lot 73499 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2023), where it sold for $90. The catalog description[1] noted, "MEXICO. 20 Centavos, 1940-M. Mexico City Mint. PCGS MS-67. Tied with only a single other coin for the finest known at PCGS, this fractional denomination has luster that can't help but cartwheel vigorously the moment the coin is moved in any direction. Frosty devices sit atop fields mostly free of any abrasions. An uncommonly nice example that sits at the very top of the population for a common type." This silver twenty centavos was issued by the Mexico City mint 1920-43 after a temporary surge in the price of silver interrupted the issue of the previous type (KM 436). The "0.720" was added to the reverse to distinguish this type from earlier issues of 1905-19, which were 0.800 fine silver. The early dates (1920-21 and 1925) are fairly scarce in nice condition but the later issues are common. Many dates, including this one, trade as bullion coins. This example realized ten times the catalog value.
Recorded mintage: 3,000,000.
Specification: 3.33 g, 0.720 fine silver, 19 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-438.
- Amaya Guerra, Carlos Abel, Epitome Ilustrado de la Moneda Mexican Moderna, 1905 a 2015, Monterrey, Mexico, 2015.
- Bailey, Don and Lois, Whitman Encyclopedia of Mexican Money, Volume 1, An Illustrated History of Mexican Coins and Currency, Atlanta: Whitman Publishing, 2014.
- Buttrey, T. V., and Clyde Hubbard, A Guide Book of Mexican Coins, 1822 to date, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 1992.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Harris, Robert P., A Guide Book of Modern Latin American Coins, Racine, WI: Whitman Publishing Co., 1966.
- Utberg, Neil S., The Coins of Mexico, 1536-1963, San Antonio, TX, 1963.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, September 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancient & World Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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