Start and grow your collection
Collecting Mexican coins is an accessible hobby, intellectually rich and with real potential to appreciate in value. This guide covers the essentials to get started: how to pick a focus (by era, by denomination, by series), how much to budget, where to buy your first pieces, how to store them, and which common mistakes to avoid. Pesoteca is here to help with a catalog, a forum, and a directory of shops.
1 Nuevo Peso 1993 (Bimetallic): What It's Really Worth
1 oz Gold Libertad 1993 (Onza de Oro): Value & How to Sell
$74,640 – $81,748 MXN
1993 Silver Libertad (1 oz): Value & How to Sell
$1,050 – $1,150 MXN
1/10 oz Gold Libertad 1993
$7,463 – $8,174 MXN
1/10 oz Silver Libertad 1993: Value & How to Sell
$104 – $114 MXN
1/2 oz Gold Libertad 1993: Value & How to Sell
$37,292 – $40,844 MXN
1/2 oz Silver Libertad 1993: Value & How to Sell
$525 – $575 MXN
1/20 oz Gold Libertad 1993
$3,792 – $4,153 MXN
1/20 oz Silver Libertad 1993: Value & Prices
$52 – $57 MXN
1/4 oz Gold Libertad 1993
$18,670 – $20,448 MXN
1/4 oz Silver Libertad 1993: Value & How to Sell
$263 – $288 MXN
1993 Mexico 10 Centavos (Stainless Steel): What It's Worth
Pick a focus: the States series (32 pieces), the Bicentennial series (37), the 1986 World Cup series (12), or the Libertad silver ounce (issued yearly). Buy a collector album and start with inexpensive circulating pieces. Use individual capsules for silver pieces. Suggested starting budget: 2,000-5,000 MXN for six months. Never clean your coins.
Start with pocket change (free). To move faster, use the certified numismatic shops in the Pesoteca directory. Conventions are ideal for buying in volume. Use the Pesoteca forum for specific pieces. Avoid a large first purchase without an advisor.
Sooner or later you will want to rotate your collection. Document every piece from the start. Selling the complete collection rather than loose pieces usually gets a better price. The Pesoteca forum is ideal for reaching collectors hunting specific pieces; auctions suit large collections.
You can start with 0 MXN by pulling commemorative pieces from your daily change. To move faster, 2,000-5,000 MXN buys you: the complete circulating 5-peso Bicentennial series, an album, a 10x loupe, and capsules. A serious silver collection runs 20,000-50,000 MXN in its first year.
For beginners: the 5-peso Bicentennial series (37 pieces, circulating, affordable, high visual impact). For a mid-range budget: the 100-peso States series (32 states, silver, aesthetically premium). For investment: the annual Libertad silver ounce (a steady way to accumulate silver).
Never handle them with bare fingers (use cotton gloves). Use individual plastic capsules (Air-Tite or Lighthouse). Use albums with polypropylene pages free of PVC. Keep a dry box (silica gel). Store away from direct light and humidity. Never use ordinary plastic bags, whose sulfur compounds attack silver.
Yes, strongly recommended. The SNM (Sociedad Numismática de México) offers publications, annual conventions, and a network of collectors. Membership runs about 600 MXN/year. There are also local clubs in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. It speeds up your learning 5-10x compared with going it alone.
Weigh and measure each piece with a 0.01 g scale and calipers. Confirm that the weight and diameter match the piece's standard. Magnet test: no legitimate silver or gold component should be magnetic. For larger pieces, try the ping test (sound) and a specific-gravity test. When in doubt, get it certified.
A focused thematic collection (for example, the complete Bicentennial series) takes 3-6 months with dedication. A complete-era collection (for example, Nuevos Pesos 1993-2026 with all the commemoratives) takes 3-7 years. A historical collection (Colonial, Republic, Empire) can be a lifelong project.
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