1970 Mexico 5 Centavos (Copper): Value & Where to Sell

If you inherited or found a 1970 Mexican 5 centavos coin, here is the honest answer: in circulated condition it is worth a few cents to about a dollar. This is a common circulation coin, not a rarity. The value climbs only if yours is in pristine, uncirculated condition or shows a verified mint error.

This is a copper coin from Mexico's old-peso era (before the 1993 currency reform). It was struck in large numbers at the Casa de Moneda de México, the Mexican Mint, so there are plenty of survivors. Rarity, not age, drives price, and this piece is not rare.

What a 1970 5 Centavos Is Actually Worth

All figures below are approximate US-dollar ranges for a genuine, undamaged coin. Prices depend almost entirely on grade (how worn the coin is) and whether it still sits in an original Banxico bank-issue blister pack.

Do not expect a windfall from a single worn example. These sell in bulk more often than one at a time. A high-grade uncirculated piece certified by NGC or PCGS can reach the upper end, but most coins pulled from a jar or drawer fall in the first row of the table.

The Specs (Check Yours Against These)

Use a jewelry scale and a caliper to confirm you have the right coin. The numbers are exact and worth verifying, because a coin that is off on weight or diameter is either the wrong denomination or a fake.

• Denomination: 5 centavos
• Year: 1970
• Metal: Copper
• Weight: 2.67 grams
• Diameter: 18 millimeters
• Edge: Plain (smooth)
• Mint: Casa de Moneda de México (mint mark "Mo")

Obverse (front): The Mexican national coat of arms (the eagle on a cactus) with the legend "ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS," which means United Mexican States, the official name of the country.

Reverse (back): The large face value "5," the year "1970," and the "Mo" mint mark of the Mexican Mint.

The Myth: "Old Mexican Coin, Must Be Worth a Fortune"

Age alone means almost nothing. A 1970 coin is barely half a century old and was minted for everyday spending, which means millions were made. What actually moves value is rarity (how few survive), demand from collectors, condition, and metal content. This copper piece scores low on the first three, and copper has no meaningful bullion floor the way silver or gold coins do.

If you are holding a jar of these and hoping for a payout, the realistic outcome is a small amount for the lot, not per coin. That said, do not toss anything until you have checked condition and looked for errors.

Could Yours Be a Valuable Error?

Genuine mint errors (off-center strikes, die rotation, doubled dies, and recognized varieties) can multiply the value of an otherwise common coin. The catch: most "errors" people spot online are post-mint damage such as dents, corrosion, or scratches, not factory mistakes. Those add nothing.

If you think you have a real error, photograph the obverse, reverse, and edge in good light and post it to the Pesoteca forum so the community can weigh in before you assume it is rare.

How to Check What Yours Is Worth

1. Confirm it is genuine. Weigh it (should be 2.67 grams) and measure it (18 millimeters). Off numbers, flat relief, or odd coloring point to a fake or a damaged piece.
2. Grade it honestly. Wear determines most of the value. Compare yours against our coin grading guide to place it in the table above.
3. Get a second opinion. For anything you suspect is uncirculated or an error, professional certification (NGC, PCGS) or a look from experienced collectors makes the difference.

Where to Sell It

For selling, a verified numismatic dealer from the Pesoteca shop directory will appraise it on the spot, or you can list it among collectors in the buy-and-sell forum. Photograph the coin front, back, and edge, and check the price range on this page before you sell. Skip dumping it on social media to the first buyer who messages you.

Have a jar of old Mexican coins you are not sure about? Post your best photos in the Pesoteca forum and let the community tell you what is worth setting aside.

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 for low denominations (1¢, 5¢, 20¢); cupronickel for intermediate denominations (25¢, 50¢, later 10¢); and .720 silver for some 25¢ and 50¢ pieces in the 1950s. Each change of alloy produced 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.