100 Pesos Herencia Numismática II, Maximiliano (2012)

If you inherited or found a Mexican 100 Pesos Herencia Numismática II, Maximiliano dated 2012, here is the straight answer: this is a modern collector coin, not a rare antique. Depending on condition, it typically trades from a few dozen dollars to a low three-figure sum for certified high-grade examples. It is worth real money above face value, but nobody is retiring on it.

What this coin actually is

This is a 100-peso commemorative struck by Banco de México (Banxico) in 2012, part of the Herencia Numismática de México ("Numismatic Heritage of Mexico") series. The design reproduces the 1866 Maximiliano peso, the coinage from the short-lived reign of Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico. Think of it as a modern tribute piece, not an actual 19th-century coin. Anyone telling you it dates to the 1800s is either mistaken or trying to overcharge you.

The finish is matte-and-shine (mate-brillo), which gives the relief that frosted-against-mirror contrast collectors look for. It was issued in 2012 only, so there are no year variants to hunt within this specific release.

Specifications (check these against your coin)

These numbers are your first authenticity test. A fake almost always misses on weight or diameter.

If your coin does not hit 33.967 grams and 39 mm, treat it as suspect until proven otherwise.

What it's worth in USD

There is no single sticker price. Value on this piece moves with condition and whether it still has its original Banxico blister packaging. Here is the honest range:

• Circulated or handled, raw (uncertified): roughly 30 to 60 USD.
• Uncirculated, raw, with original packaging: roughly 60 to 120 USD.
• Certified high grade (NGC or PCGS MS68 and up): can reach into the low hundreds when two collectors want the same slabbed example.

The silver content gives the coin a floor. Bimetallic Banxico commemoratives from this era carry a silver center, so even a beat-up example holds bullion value below which it will not fall. That floor is what separates this from purely base-metal circulating coins that are worth face value and nothing more.

Is it rare?

Not in the classic sense. Banxico never published an official mintage for this specific issue, which usually means it went out in limited numismatic sets rather than general circulation. Low visibility is not the same as extreme rarity. On collector forums you will see mintage figures thrown around, but none are confirmed, so ignore any listing that quotes an "official" number as gospel.

What drives price here is condition and demand, not age. A pristine, certified example beats a scratched one every time, and the gap between a raw coin and a graded one can be substantial. If you own the nicest example you have ever seen, that is the one worth submitting to a grading service.

How to tell if yours is genuine

1. Weigh it. It must read 33.967 grams. A digital jewelry scale settles most doubts in seconds.
2. Measure it. 39 mm across.
3. Study the relief. Compare the Maximiliano portrait detail to official Banxico images. Counterfeits run flat and mushy; the genuine matte-and-shine contrast is crisp.
4. Check the edge. The interrupted reeding is hard to fake cleanly.
5. When in doubt, certify. For anything you believe is high grade, submission to NGC or PCGS is the final word. They authenticate and grade in one step, and a slab makes the coin easier to sell for full value.

For a deeper walkthrough on grading, see the Mexican coin grading guide. To understand the wider set, browse the Herencia Numismática de México series.

Where to sell it

US sellers have a few solid routes:

• Certify first if it's high grade. A graded coin sells faster and for more.
• Specialist dealers and auction houses handle Mexican numismatics and will give you a real appraisal. This is the safest path for anything above 100 USD.
• Collector marketplaces and forums get you closer to retail, but always photograph the obverse, reverse, and edge so buyers can verify weight and detail.
• Avoid dumping it to the first bidder on a general auction site. Bimetallic Banxico coins are frequently faked online, and honest buyers know it, so clear photos and a stated weight protect your price.

To connect with collectors and dealers directly, use the Pesoteca buy-and-sell forum or check the verified dealer directory for an in-person appraisal.

Have one of these sitting in a drawer, or a full Herencia Numismática set? Post clear photos of both sides and the edge in the Pesoteca forum and let the community tell you what grade you're really holding.

100 pesos silver, Herencia Numismatica de Mexico series II, 2012, a reproduction of the 1866 Maximiliano peso. A piece from the Banco de Mexico Herencia project dedicated to the peso issued under Maximilian of Habsburg's Second Mexican Empire between 1866 and 1867. The coin shows the emperor's bust on the obverse with the legend MAXIMILIANO EMPERADOR and the crowned imperial eagle on the reverse with the legend IMPERIO MEXICANO. It was produced at the Mexico City, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosi, Zacatecas and Chihuahua mints during the brief imperial regime. Maximilian was executed in Queretaro on June 19, 1867 after the Empire fell, and issues in his name ceased. The official weight of the Herencia reproduction is close to 31.10 grams with .999 silver fineness. The matte-and-brilliant finish combines a satin field with mirror relief. Under the Banco de Mexico administration led by Agustin Carstens. Series II included six pieces in 2012. Collectible pieces for reproducing one of the most politically singular issues of Mexico's 19th-century cycle.