Mexico 2018 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. The type is recorded for 2000-2017 but later dates are known. The second specimen was lot 77620 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice Online Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2025), where it sold for $240. The catalog description[1] noted, "MEXICO. Silver Onza, 2018-Mo. Mexican (Potosi) Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-70. Antiqued Finish."
Recorded mintage: 300,000 plus 40,000 proofs plus 10,000 reverse proofs.
Specification: 31.1 g, 0.999 fine silver, 1.00 troy oz ASW, reeded edge, 40 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 639 (unlisted date).
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 2001-Date, 13th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2018.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, February 2025 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancients, World Coins & World Paper Money, David B. Simpson Medals & World Coins Part 1, Selections from the Richard Margolis Collection, and Selections from the L. E. Bruun Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
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