50 Pesos Coin – Gold (Mexico)
The 50 pesos gold coin, nicknamed “Centenario”, was struck by the Mexico City Mint from 1921 to celebrate the centenary of Mexican independence. One side shows the winged Victory of the Angel of Independence, Mexico City’s landmark monument, in front of the Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes; the other bears the Mexican coat of arms: an eagle perched on a cactus, devouring a snake. Struck until 1947 and later restruck with that date, it is one of the largest gold investment coins.
The coin weighs 41.67 g in total. Its fineness is 900‰: 90% gold and 10% copper. Of these 41.67 g, 37.50 g are pure gold, i.e. 1.2057 troy ounces — significantly more than a one-ounce coin.
The price of a gold coin follows the amount of pure gold it contains, not its total weight: it is these 37.50 g of fine gold that determine its price, which is why it costs more than a one-ounce coin such as the Maple Leaf or the Krugerrand.
