Mexico 1983 onza
In 1949 the Mexico City mint issued the world's first onza to modest success. It tried again in 1980 with a resurrection of the 1949 design. In 1982 the medallion (technically, Libertads are not coins) was redesigned to use the obverse from the 1921 two pesos. The weight was reduced and the fineness increased from .925 to .999 silver. The medallion was an immediate hit. It was the only silver bullion coin on the market for several years and, backed by the Mexican government, outcompeted private mint issues. It inspired imitations such as the U. S. silver eagle (from 1986) and the Canadian Maple Leaf (from 1988) which have cut into its market share to the point where several of the later dates are downright rare. This specimen is a proof and was lot 13634 in Heritage sale 387 (Long Beach, September 2005), where it sold for $258.75. The catalog description noted, "Estados Unidos 1 Onza 1983, Proof 67 Deep Cameo PCGS. Very scarce with a proof issue of only 998 pieces." Proof Libertads have been issued sporadically since but this date is the rarest.
Recorded mintage: 1,001,768 plus 998 proofs.
Specification: 31.1 g, 0.999 fine silver, 1.00 troy oz ASW, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: KM 494.1.
- 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:
- 1949 onza
- 1981 gold onza
- 1982 onza
- 1983 20 centavos, Madero
- 1983 20 centavos, Olmec culture
- 1983 50 centavos, Cuauhtémoc
- 1983 50 centavos, Palenque culture
- 1983 peso, Morelos
- 1983 5 pesos, Quetzalcoatl
- 1983 10 pesos, Hidalgo
- 1983 20 pesos, Maya dancer
- 1983 50 pesos, Coyolxauhqui
- Mexico 1988 500 pesos
- Mexico 1988 1000 pesos
- 1984 onza
- Coins and currency dated 1983
- return to Mexican coinage of the modern era, since 1905