Mexico 1938-M 50 centavos
The first specimen was part of lot 23011 in Heritage sale 3010 (Boston, August 2010), which sold for $546.25. The catalog description[1] noted, "Modern Grouping of 18 High Grade Decimals, 1 Centavo to 1 Peso examples. Many AU and UNC. A lot to be carefully examined." This fifty centavos piece replaced the fifty centavo piece struck 1918-19. The "0.720" was added to the reverse to distinguish this type from earlier issues. The older coin was 9.06 g, 0.800 fine. It, in turn, was replaced by a billon fifty centavos piece in 1950. The last branch mints, Zacatecas and Culiacan, were closed in 1905 and all official Mexican coinage since has borne the Mexico City mintmark ("M" or "Mo"). This is the key date.
Recorded mintage: 100,000.
Specification: 8.33 g, 0.720 fine silver, .193 troy oz ASW, 27 mm diameter, lettered edge.
Catalog reference: KM 447.
- 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.
- Utberg, Neil S., The Coins of Mexico, 1536-1963, San Antonio, TX, 1963.
- [1]Tucker, Warren, Scott Cordry and John Kraljevich, Heritage Sale 3010: World Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2010.
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