United Mexican States

Centennial of Independence

Restrike Gold Coin

50 Pesos

墨西哥合眾國

獨立百年紀念重鑄金幣

50披索

Item number: A2622

Year: AD 1947 dated

Material: Gold (.900)

Size: 35.5 x 35.5 mm

Weight: 41.670 g

Manufactured by: Mexico Mint

Provenance: Spink 2023

This is a restrike of the 50-peso gold coin minted by the Casa de Moneda de México and issued by the Banco de México. The original coin was first issued in AD 1921 to commemorate the centennial of Mexico’s independence from Spain. Due to its popularity in the market, it continued to be issued intermittently until AD 1947, with the coin’s date updated annually. From AD 1947 to 1972, a total of 3,975,654 restrikes were produced, most bearing the AD 1947 date. Between AD 2000 and 2013, a further 388,800 coins were struck using the same 1947 die.

The obverse of the coin features the national emblem of Mexico at its centre: a golden eagle devouring a serpent while perched upon a cactus growing out of a rock in the middle of a lake. This imagery is derived from Aztec mythology, wherein the rock marks the original site of the city of Tenochtitlán, present-day Mexico City. Below the emblem are oak and laurel leaves, which in Greco-Roman tradition symbolise victory and have come to represent republican ideals. Encircling the design is the inscription “ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS”, the official name of the United Mexican States.

The reverse of the coin depicts the full frontal figure of the Roman goddess of Victory, also referred to as the Angel of Independence (El Ángel de la Independencia). With wings extended from her shoulders, she raises a laurel wreath in her right hand as if bestowing a crown, while her left hand holds a broken chain, symbolising liberty and emancipation. The design is inspired by the Angel of Independence monument erected in Mexico City in AD 1910. To the left is the denomination “50 PESOS”, and to the right the inscription “37.5 Gr. ORO PURO”, indicating the coin contains 37.5 grams of pure gold. The background features a mountain range depicting the volcanoes Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl, with the years “1821” and “1947” inscribed to signify the year of independence and the nominal year of issue, respectively.

The flat surfaces of both the obverse and reverse are mirror-polished, and the edge of the coin is finely reeded. The design was created by Emilio del Moral.

Owing to its clearly defined gold content, aesthetically refined design, and large mintage, the Mexican 50-peso gold coin has long been regarded as an excellent investment-grade coin, suitable for both gold preservation and collection. Coins bearing the 1947 date tend to track the market price of gold, whereas rarer dated issues may appreciate in value over time.

The Mexican 50-peso gold coin, commonly referred to as the Centenario, was first issued in AD 1921 to commemorate one hundred years of independence from Spain. Its release came shortly after the conclusion of the Mexican Revolution, during a period of political instability. It is likely that the government sought to use the coin as a means of reinforcing national identity and legitimising the new regime. The obverse features the statue of a goddess representing liberty and victory, with a volcanic backdrop evoking national pride and historical continuity. Although the coin bears a face value of 50 pesos, it served primarily symbolic and commemorative purposes. From the 1940s onward, in response to domestic economic conditions and global gold market trends, the Mexican government issued large quantities of restrikes between AD 1949 and 1972. While all of these bear the 1947 date, they were minted in the post-war period as officially recognised bullion coins and circulated widely in the international precious metals market. Today, the coin is also fashioned into pendants, becoming an alternative symbol of identity and wealth within Mexican cultural expression.

物件編號: A2622

年代: 標為公元 1947 年

材質: 黃金 (900‰)

尺寸: 35.5 x 35.5 mm

重量: 41.670 g

製造地: 墨西哥造幣廠

來源: 斯賓克拍賣行 2015

此為墨西哥造幣廠(Casa de Moneda de México)所製造,墨西哥銀行(Banco de México)所發行的50披索金幣重鑄品。此幣於公元1921年,為紀念獨立一百週年而發行,因受市場歡迎,斷續發售至公元1947年,每年更換幣面年份。公元1947至1972年,重鑄併發行了3,975,654枚此金幣,大多使用公元1947年幣模。公元2000至2013年,以公元1947年幣模再次重鑄並發行388,800枚。

金幣正面的中央是墨西哥國徽,為一隻叼著蛇的雄鷹佇立在一棵從湖中的岩石長出的仙人掌上。國徽取自阿茲特克人的神話,而神話中所敘述的岩石,便是特諾奇蒂特蘭城的原址,也就是如今的墨西哥城。下方的橡葉與月桂在希臘羅馬神話中象徵著勝利,也因此經常作為共和制的象徵。周圍的西班牙文「ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS」則為「墨西哥合眾國」的官方名稱。

金幣背面中央為羅馬勝利女神,或稱獨立天使(El Ángel de la Independencia),之正面全身像。其肩生雙翼,右手高舉桂冠,似欲加冕,左手持一截斷裂的鐵鍊,象徵自由與解放。設計源自公元1910年,墨西哥城豎立之獨立天使紀念碑。左側為面額「50 PESOS」,即50披索;右側西班牙文「37.5Gr. ORO PURO 」,意即內含37.5公克之純金;下方背景為起伏的山巒,為伊斯塔西瓦特爾與波波卡特佩特火山,其上書「1821 1947」分別標示獨立與發行此幣之年。

金幣正背面無圖處為經鏡面處理。幣稜為細齒(Reeded)狀。圖樣設計者為埃米利奧·德爾·莫拉爾(Emilio del Moral)。

因含金量明確且穩定,設計精美,發行量大,墨西哥50披索金幣長期被認為是一種優良的投資型金幣,用於黃金保值與收藏。如1947版可能會較貼近金價,較罕見的年份可能會隨時間升值。

墨西哥50披索金幣(簡稱為Centenario)最初於公元1921年發行,旨在紀念墨西哥自西班牙獨立百年,發行背景正值墨西哥革命結束後不久,政局尚未穩定,政府可能藉由發行此幣強化國族認同與政權合法性。硬幣正面圖案為象徵自由與勝利的女神雕像,背景為墨西哥著名火山,體現民族精神與歷史記憶。該幣雖具面額50披索,但主要為紀念與象徵用途。公元1940年代起,墨西哥政府因應國內外經濟情勢與國際金市需求,於公元1949至1972年間大量再鑄此幣,雖皆標示1947年,實為戰後發行,轉為官方認可的黃金投資工具與國際貴金屬市場的交易媒介。今日,將該金幣製為吊墜,成為墨西哥文化中認同或財富的另類象徵。

類似/相同物件 請看:

墨西哥銀行Banco de México

https://www.banxico.org.mx/banknotes-and-coins/demonetized-a-type-coins.html

美國國家歷史博物館National Museum of American History

https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object/nmah_1118599

更多相關訊息請參考:

The history of coins and banknotes in México, Banco de México
https://www.banxico.org.mx/banknotes-and-coins/d/%7BB8C0D87B-F55F-792A-A6C6-FC0F58CF2EA3%7D.pdf

Cuhaj, George S. (ed.), et al. Standard Catalog of World Coins, 2015: 1901-2000. Stevens Point: Krause Publications, 2014.

何國世,《墨西哥史──仙人掌王國》,臺北:三民書局,2022。

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