Mexico 1980 peso

from the Mountain Groan Collection

By the late 1970's, the Mexican economy was running into trouble. Political mismanagement, corruption, an antiquated tax structure were feeding inflation. Coin types, once stable in the early part of the century, began turning over more rapidly as inflation ate away their purchasing power. While this gave employment to coin designers and engravers, it limited their scope of action as progressively cheaper alloys were adopted. The peso, originally a large silver coin (KM 453), progressively shrank (see the 1943 peso) until this design appeared 1970-83, containing no silver at all. The portrait is of José Morelos, hero of the War of Independence (1810-21).

Recorded mintage: 318,800,000 (closed 8, shown here) plus 23,865,000 (open 8).

Specification: 9 g, copper nickel, 29 mm diameter, reeded edge.

Catalog reference: KM 460.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• 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.

Link to:

• 1979 peso, copper-nickel
• 1980 10 centavos
• 1980 20 centavos, Madero
• 1980 50 centavos, Cuauhtémoc
• 1980 20 pesos, Maya dancer
• 1980 onza
• 1982 Libertad
• 1983 peso, Morelos
• Coins and currency dated 1980
• return to Mexican coinage of the modern era, since 1905