10 Pesos 1982 (Miguel Hidalgo): What It's Worth

If you inherited or found a 1982 Mexican 10 pesos coin with a man's profile on it, here is the honest answer: in worn condition it is worth about 1 to 3 US dollars, close to face value for collectors. The value only climbs for coins in top mint-state condition. This is a common circulation coin, not a rarity, so let's break down exactly what yours is worth and how to check.

What this coin is

The man on the back is Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a leader of Mexico's independence movement and one of the most recognizable faces on Mexican coins of that era. The front shows the Mexican coat of arms (an eagle on a cactus) with the legend "Estados Unidos Mexicanos" (United Mexican States, the country's official name).

It was struck at the Casa de Moneda de México (the Mexican Mint) in cupronickel, a copper-nickel alloy. There is no silver or gold in it, so it has no precious-metal melt value. Here are the exact specs:

How much is a 1982 10 pesos worth?

For most people reading this, the answer is: a few dollars. This coin was minted in large numbers for everyday use, so worn and circulated examples are common and inexpensive.

The money is in the top grades. A 1982 10 pesos in true uncirculated condition, with original shine and no nicks on the edge, is harder to find than it looks, because almost every one of these coins actually circulated and got beat up. A clean, high-grade example is what a collector will pay a premium for.

Do not expect a life-changing figure. Anyone telling you an ordinary 1982 10 pesos is worth hundreds or thousands of dollars is wrong. The real value driver here is grade, not the date.

Why it's not rare (and why that's fine)

This coin belongs to the final years of the "old" peso before Mexico's big 1993 currency reform, when the country introduced the Nuevo Peso (New Peso) and lopped three zeros off the money. Through the early 1980s Mexico went through heavy devaluation, and coins like this one were losing purchasing power fast, which is exactly why so many were made and circulated.

That wide production is why it is common in low and middle grades. The upside: it is easy to find and cheap to own if you just want the coin. The value simply concentrates in the small percentage that survived without wear.

Watch out for "error" coins

Genuine mint errors (off-center strikes, die rotation, doubled dies) can multiply the value of a piece if they are real and verifiable. Be careful, though: most "errors" people post online are post-mint damage (dings, scratches, corrosion), not factory errors. Damage lowers value; a true error can raise it. If you think you have a genuine error, get it looked at before you assume it's worth money.

How to tell if yours is genuine

Counterfeits of a common cupronickel coin are uncommon, but here is how to check:

• Weigh it. It should be 14.09 grams on a jewelry scale.
• Measure it. Diameter should be 30.58 mm with calipers.
• Check the edge. It should have reeding (fine grooves), not a smooth edge.
• Look at the relief. Fakes often have flat, mushy detail or the wrong color balance.

If the weight or diameter is off, or the design looks soft and lifeless, be suspicious.

Where to sell it

Since this coin's value depends almost entirely on condition, get the right eyes on it before selling. Your best options:

• A verified coin shop from the Pesoteca directory, where a dealer can grade and value it in person.
• The Pesoteca buy-and-sell forum, where collectors trade directly.

Photograph the front, back, and edge in good light, and compare your coin's grade against the values above before you sell. Skip dumping it to the first Facebook buyer for a random price.

Have a whole box of old Mexican coins and no idea what any of them are? Post clear photos on the Pesoteca forum and let the community help you sort the common from the keepers.

Mexican circulating peso coins of the second half of the 20th century were struck in alloys that changed according to the cost of metals and inflationary pressures: .720 silver in the $1, $5, $10, $25 denominations during the 1940s-50s; cupronickel from the 1970s; aluminum bronze and stainless steel in the 1980s; pieces bearing figures (Hidalgo, Cuauhtémoc, Juárez, Madero) in the late 1980s just before the transition to Nuevos Pesos in 1992. 1982 corresponds to the period when this variant was in circulation.