1970 Mexican 20 Centavos (Copper, Pyramid of the Sun)

If you found a 1970 Mexican 20 centavos with a pyramid on the back, here is the honest answer: it is worth about 1 to 2 USD in circulated condition, and close to 3 USD if it is truly uncirculated. This is one of the most common Mexican coins ever struck, so a worn example is worth barely more than its copper.

Mexico minted 76,287,000 of these in 1970 alone, according to Numista, one of the highest figures in the whole series. High mintage plus heavy circulation equals a coin that almost never carries a premium. Do not let a seller tell you it is a rare treasure.

What this coin is

This is a 20 centavos piece (20 cents of an old Mexican peso), catalog reference KM#440. The reverse shows the Pirámide del Sol (Pyramid of the Sun) at Teotihuacán, with the volcanoes Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl in the background. Above the pyramid, the number 20 is split by a radiant Phrygian cap (a liberty cap). Below sits the mint mark Mo and the year.

The Mo mark stands for the Casa de Moneda de México (the Mexican Mint) in Mexico City, where the entire series was struck. The obverse carries the national coat of arms: the eagle devouring a serpent.

Specs

Either way the alloy is described, it is a brown-toned copper coin. There is no silver and no gold here.

What it's actually worth in 2026

Based on Numista estimates:

A worn example is worth close to its metal value and nothing more. The only version that carries any real premium is a genuinely uncirculated coin with original luster, sharp detail on the pyramid, and no green corrosion spots.

Because it is copper and it circulated for decades, finding one with full original shine and clean surfaces is the hard part. That is where the small collector value lives, in condition, not in age or the design.

Is it the same as the 1966 version?

Yes. It is the identical design (KM#440), the Pyramid of the Sun series. The only thing that changes is the year engraved under the Mo mint mark. The series ran from the late 1940s into the early 1970s, so several dates share this exact look. Some earlier or lower-mintage dates in the family can be worth a bit more, but 1970 is one of the most abundant.

Where to sell it

Since it is so common, do not expect much for a circulated piece. Realistically, a worn one is trade or bulk material. If yours is uncirculated with strong luster, it is worth listing to a collector.

• Compare buyers of Mexican centavos in the Pesoteca shop directory.
• For grading and condition questions, post clear photos in the Pesoteca forum.
• If you have a batch of mixed Mexican coins, check our guide on the most valuable Mexican coins to spot anything worth pulling aside.

The honest reality: this coin is a great starter piece and a good lesson in how copper ages, but it is not going to fund a retirement.

Got a full box of old Mexican coins and not sure what to keep? Post your photos in the Pesoteca forum and we'll help you find the ones that actually matter.

The circulating centavo coins in Mexico during the second half of the 20th century were struck in alloys that changed according to the cost of metals: 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 1950s. Each change of alloy created a distinct variant of the same face value. 1970 corresponds to the period when this variant was in circulation, before the transition to Nuevos Pesos in 1992. The Mexican Mint kept the basic design of the National Coat of Arms on the obverse and the numeric value on the reverse throughout this era.