Mexico 1992 onza

from the Mountain Groan Collection

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. In 1990, the design was revised to change the lettered edge to reeded. In 1991, the lettering was revised, which is most obvious on the denomination. On the first type, the denomination is lettered "onza"; on the second, shown here, the denomination is lettered "OnZa". All the 1992 Libertads have the revised lettering.

Recorded mintage: 2,458,000 + 10,000 proofs.

Specification: 31.1 g, 0.999 fine silver, 1.00 troy oz ASW, reeded edge.

Catalog reference: KM 494.3.

Source:

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.
Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
Buttrey, T. V., and Clyde Hubbard, A Guide Book of Mexican Coins, 1822 to date, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 1992.

Link to:

Mexico 1992 onza

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