1967 Mexico 20 Centavos (Copper): What It's Worth

If you inherited or found a 1967 Mexican 20 centavos copper coin, here is the honest answer: in circulated condition it is worth a few cents to about a dollar. A clean, uncirculated example can bring a few dollars to collectors. This is a common coin, not a rare one, and no legitimate auction has ever paid a fortune for a standard 1967 piece.

Quick answer: what a 1967 20 centavos is worth

This coin was minted in large numbers for everyday spending, so most survivors trade close to their scrap-metal value. Its worth in 2026 depends almost entirely on condition (grade) and whether it still has its original mint packaging.

These are collector ranges for a normal coin with no error. A single 1967 20 centavos will not fund your retirement, and any listing claiming thousands of dollars for a common example is marketing, not market.

What you actually have

The 1967 20 centavos is a copper coin from Mexico's modern pre-1992 era, struck at the Casa de Moneda de México (the Mexican Mint), which is the oldest mint in the Americas. Its mint mark is the small "Mo" you see on the reverse.

Specifications, useful for confirming authenticity:

• Denomination: 20 centavos (0.20 of an old peso)
• Year: 1967
• Metal: Copper
• Weight: 10 grams
• Diameter: 28.5 mm
• Edge: Plain (smooth)
• Obverse (front): Mexican national coat of arms with the legend "ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS" (United Mexican States, the country's official name)
• Reverse (back): Large face value "20", the date "1967", and the "Mo" mint mark

Because it is copper and not silver or gold, there is no precious-metal floor under it. The metal is worth pennies, which is why grade is the only thing that moves the price.

Why this coin is not rare

Demand for common 20th-century Mexican minors is modest. Millions of pieces were struck, and copper coins tend to survive because people put them in jars and drawers. Rarity comes from low mintage and few survivors, and this coin has neither problem. A worn 1967 20 centavos is a pocket-change coin with a small collector following, nothing more.

The exceptions are genuine mint errors, covered below.

Do errors make it valuable?

Sometimes, but be skeptical. Real striking errors (off-center strikes, die rotation, doubled dies, planchet varieties) can multiply the value of a common coin if they are authentic and verifiable. The catch: most "errors" people post online are post-mint damage, dents, corrosion, or acid etching, none of which add value. Those are damaged coins, not factory errors.

If you think yours shows a true error, post clear photos of the front, back, and edge in the Pesoteca forum so collectors can confirm it before you get excited.

How to tell if yours is genuine

Counterfeits of a low-value copper coin are uncommon, but it takes two minutes to verify:

1. Weigh it on a jewelry scale. It should be 10 grams.
2. Measure the diameter with calipers. It should be 28.5 mm.
3. Check the edge. It should be plain and smooth.
4. Look at the relief and color. Genuine pieces have crisp detail and even copper tone. Fakes tend to look flat, mushy, or oddly colored.

For a walkthrough on judging wear and assigning a grade, see our Mexican coin grading guide.

Where to sell it

Since the coin is worth a few dollars, your goal is a fair, hassle-free sale:

• A verified numismatic shop from the Pesoteca directory can appraise and buy it on the spot, priced by city and without markup from middlemen.
• The Pesoteca buy-and-sell forum puts you in front of collectors directly.

Before selling, photograph the obverse, reverse, and edge, and compare your coin to the grade ranges above. Do not dump it to the first buyer on social media. For low-value coins, selling a full jar as a lot often nets more than pricing each one.

Got a coffee can of old Mexican coins and no idea what's in it? Post a photo of the pile in the Pesoteca forum and we'll help you spot the ones worth setting aside.

Circulating centavo coins in Mexico during the second half of the 20th century were struck in alloys that changed according to metal costs: copper, bronze and brass in the low denominations (1¢, 5¢, 20¢); cupronickel for the intermediate denominations (25¢, 50¢, late 10¢); and .720 silver for some 25¢ and 50¢ pieces in the 50s. Each alloy change produced a distinct variant of the same face value. 1967 corresponds to the period when this variant was in circulation, before the transition to Nuevos Pesos in 1992. The Mexico City Mint kept the basic design of the National Coat of Arms on the obverse and the numeric value on the reverse throughout this era.