5 Pesos 2008 López Rayón: Value & Where to Sell
The 5 Pesos 2008 López Rayón: Value & Where to Sell is worth between $40 and $100 MXN depending on its grade of preservation.
Prices updated: August 2026
Bicentennial of Independence. President of the Supreme National American Junta.
Bicentennial of Independence. President of the Supreme National American Junta.
The 5 Pesos 2008 López Rayón: Value & Where to Sell is worth between $40 and $100 MXN depending on its grade of preservation.
Prices updated: August 2026
How much is the 5 Pesos 2008 López Rayón: Value & Where to Sell worth?
The estimated value of the 5 Pesos 2008 López Rayón: Value & Where to Sell ranges from $40 (circulated, XF) up to $100 (official blister pack), with $78 as a reference for an uncirculated (UNC) piece. The estimate is based on the official mintage and the historical behavior of the family.
The real price depends on four factors: the grade of preservation (a circulated piece is worth the low end of the range; an uncirculated one, or one still in its official blister pack, the high end), the finish (satin vs mirror/proof), the rarity within the series based on the mintage, and the metal spot price on the day of the deal when the piece is silver or gold. Check the value-by-grade table above and compare with equivalent pieces before buying or selling.
Where to buy or sell this coin?
Browse the national directory of numismatic shops or the community forum to trade directly with other collectors.
Description
If you inherited or found a 2008 Mexican 5 pesos coin showing Ignacio López Rayón, here is the honest answer: the regular version you pulled from change is worth about its face value, close to 30 US cents. The one that carries real money is the silver proof, and even that trades in the range of 15 to 40 USD, not hundreds. Below is how to tell which one you have and what it actually sells for in 2026.
What this coin actually is
This is a bimetallic 5 pesos coin struck by Banco de México (the Mexican central bank, known as Banxico) in 2008. It belongs to a large commemorative program marking the bicentennial of Mexican independence. The program released dozens of different designs honoring historical figures. This particular one features Ignacio López Rayón, who led the Suprema Junta Nacional Americana during the independence movement.
Because it was part of a big series, millions of people in the US and Mexico ended up with one or more of these coins. That is the first reason to keep expectations grounded: a coin that was produced in quantity and handed out in circulation is not rare, no matter how old or foreign it looks.
The two versions (this decides the value)
There are two versions of this exact coin, and the difference in value is large.
1. The circulating (business strike) version. This is the one that went into everyday use in Mexico. It has a normal, slightly dull finish and shows wear if it was handled. In 2026 it is worth roughly its face value, about 25 to 30 US cents at the current exchange rate. A crisp uncirculated example might bring a dollar or two from a collector filling a set, but that is the ceiling.
2. The proof version. Banxico also struck a limited proof version with a mirror-like field and frosted design. Critically, the center of the proof coin is .925 sterling silver, while the circulating version is not. The proof came sealed in an official Banxico capsule and case. This is the version with real collector value, typically 15 to 40 USD depending on condition and whether it still has its original case and certificate.
If your coin is loose, worn, and came from a coin jar, it is almost certainly the circulating version worth face value. If it is sealed in a hard plastic capsule inside a Banxico presentation box, you likely have the silver proof.
Specifications
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Face value | 5 pesos |
| Year | 2008 |
| Weight | 9.76 g |
| Diameter | 30.52 mm |
| Edge | Plain (smooth) |
| Composition | Aluminum-bronze ring, center silver .925 (proof version) |
| Finish | Proof (encapsulated) and regular circulation |
| Issuer | Banco de México (Banxico) |
What it sells for
| Version | Condition | Approx. value (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Circulating | Worn / used | Face value (about 0.30 USD) |
| Circulating | Uncirculated | 1 to 2 USD |
| Proof (silver, no case) | Encapsulated | 12 to 25 USD |
| Proof (silver, full case + certificate) | Complete | 20 to 40 USD |
These are collector market ranges, not guaranteed offers. A dealer buying to resell will pay less than the retail figures above. Prices shift with the silver spot price, which puts a floor under the proof version's melt value.
The myth to ignore
Search results and social media videos regularly claim old or foreign coins like this are worth thousands. For this coin, that is false. It is not scarce, it was made in quantity, and there is no dramatic auction record behind it. Do not pay for an appraisal that costs more than the coin, and do not believe a buyer who offers you a suspiciously high price sight unseen. If a listing shows this coin at hundreds of dollars, it is either the wrong coin or wishful pricing that never sells.
The one legitimate exception is a genuine mint error. Coins with true striking errors (off-center strikes, die rotation, double strikes) can be worth more. But most "errors" people post online are post-mint damage: scratches, corrosion, and dings from circulation. Those add nothing.
How to check what yours is worth
- Identify the version. Look for a silver center and a proof (mirror) finish, ideally still in a Banxico capsule. That is the valuable one. A worn coin with a matte finish is the common circulating type.
- Weigh and measure it. Use a jewelry scale and calipers. It should weigh 9.76 g and measure 30.52 mm. A coin off on weight or diameter is a fake or a different denomination.
- Check condition honestly. Wear, scratches, and cleaning all lower value. Never clean a coin; it destroys collector value.
- Get a second opinion before selling. Post clear photos of the front, back, and edge in the Pesoteca forum and let collectors weigh in.
Where to sell it
For the circulating version, honestly, it is not worth shipping to a buyer; keep it as a souvenir. For the silver proof, a verified numismatic shop from the Pesoteca directory can appraise and buy it on the spot, or you can list it in the Pesoteca buy-and-sell forum among collectors. Photograph the piece and its case before you sell, and avoid dumping it to the first bidder on a social media marketplace.
If you have a whole box of Mexican coins and you are not sure which are the keepers, the fastest move is to post photos and let the community flag anything worth a closer look. Which coin from your stash do you want checked first?
Historical context
Ignacio López Rayón López-Aguado: lawyer, Hidalgo's secretary, and president of the Suprema Junta Nacional Americana
Ignacio López Rayón López-Aguado (1773-1832) was a lawyer, Hidalgo's secretary, and president of the Suprema Junta Nacional Americana during the War of Independence.
Rayón was accompanying Hidalgo on his journey north when the betrayal at Acatita de Baján scattered the insurgent high command in 1811. In August of that year he established the Suprema Junta Nacional Americana in Zitácuaro, the first collegiate body of insurgent government, and drafted the Elementos Constitucionales, a constitutional draft that preceded Morelos's Sentimientos de la Nación.
Context of the year. The piece is from 2008 and honors the movement's civil government. Between 1811 and 1813 the Junta of Zitácuaro was the only political authority recognized by the insurgents.
The coin's reverse. The reverse of this 5 peso piece shows the portrait of Ignacio López Rayón López-Aguado, his engraved signature, and the year 2008, in keeping with the Bank of Mexico's official catalog for the commemorative series of the Bicentennial of the start of Independence (1810-2010).
Legacy. The city of Tlalpujahua honors his memory and several municipalities hold him as a point of reference. His Elementos Constitucionales are considered the first constitutional text of Mexican origin.
This piece belongs to the era
Nuevos Pesos y actualidad →Explore all the Mexican coins of this era, their historical context and how they connect to the monetary system of the period.
Value range of this piece
Market estimate: $40 - $100 MXN depending on the grade of preservation (typical range between a circulated and an uncirculated piece).
See the full breakdown by grade (VG, F, VF, EF, AU, MS-60, MS-63, MS-65) for the whole series →
Other denominations from 2008
5 Pesos Bicentenario Independencia y Centenario Revolución · Bimetálica
Same denomination, other years
5 pesos Bimetálica · 5 Pesos Bicentenario Independencia y Centenario Revolución
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
How much is the 2008 Mexican 5 pesos López Rayón coin worth?
The regular circulating version is worth about its face value, roughly 25 to 30 US cents, and 1 to 2 USD if uncirculated. The silver proof version, sealed in a Banxico capsule, is the valuable one and typically sells for 15 to 40 USD depending on condition and whether it has its original case and certificate.
Is this coin rare or valuable?
No, not the common one. It was part of a large bicentennial series produced in quantity and released into circulation, so it is easy to find and worth face value. Only the limited silver proof version carries real collector interest, and even that trades for tens of dollars, not hundreds.
Where can I sell the 2008 5 pesos López Rayón coin?
For the silver proof, use a verified numismatic shop from the Pesoteca directory, which can appraise and buy it in person, or list it in the Pesoteca buy-and-sell forum among collectors. Photograph the front, back, edge, and any original case first, and check the value range here before accepting an offer.
How can I tell if my coin is genuine?
Weigh it on a jewelry scale (it should be 9.76 g) and measure the diameter with calipers (30.52 mm). Fakes usually miss on weight or size, or show flat relief and poorly separated colors between the ring and center. A genuine silver proof will also have a sharp mirror finish and, ideally, its Banxico capsule and paperwork.
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