5 Pesos Matamoros 2008: What It's Really Worth

If you inherited or found a 2008 Mexican 5 pesos coin with Mariano Matamoros on it, here is the honest answer: the regular circulated version is worth close to face value, roughly 25 to 50 US cents to a dollar. The proof version with the silver center, sealed in its original Banco de México case, is the one that carries a premium. This is not a rare coin, but not all of them are equal.

What this coin actually is

The 5 Pesos Matamoros is a bimetallic commemorative coin struck by Banco de México (the country's central bank) in 2008. It belongs to the Bicentennial of Mexican Independence program, which honored the leaders of Mexico's independence movement. This one features Mariano Matamoros, an insurgent priest who was a close ally of José María Morelos.

Bimetallic means it has two parts: an outer ring and a different-metal center, similar to a US dollar coin's construction or a euro coin. That two-tone look is normal for this series and does not by itself make the coin valuable.

Two versions, two very different values

This is the part that matters if you want a real number.

Circulation version. This is the one you would find in change or in a jar of coins. The center is aluminum-bronze, not silver. In worn or average condition it is worth face value, meaning a few dollars in Mexican pesos at most, which translates to well under 1 US dollar. A crisp uncirculated example might bring a small premium from a collector, but do not expect much.

Proof silver version. Banco de México also issued a proof strike with a .925 sterling silver center (92.5 percent silver), sealed in an official presentation case. "Proof" means a mirror-finish collector strike, not a coin meant to spend. This is the version that carries real collector value, especially when it stays sealed in its original Banxico capsule and case. If yours is loose, scratched, or clearly circulated, it is almost certainly the base version, not the silver proof.

The fastest way to tell them apart: the proof comes encapsulated in a hard plastic holder inside a box. A loose coin from a coin jar is the circulation type.

Specifications

Spec	Detail
Denomination	5 Pesos
Year	2008
Weight	9.76 g
Diameter	30.52 mm
Edge	Plain (smooth)
Composition	Aluminum-bronze ring, .925 silver center (proof)
Finish	Proof (encapsulated) and regular circulation
Issuer	Banco de México

Real value in 2026

Version	Typical condition	Approximate value (USD)
Circulation, worn	Average	Face value, under 1 dollar
Circulation, uncirculated	Bright, unworn	2 to 6 dollars
Proof silver, sealed	Original Banxico case	Higher, driven by silver content and demand

The proof silver version's floor is its metal content plus the collector premium for a complete, sealed set. Because the silver center is small, this is not a bullion play; the value comes from it being a proof collectible in original packaging. Loose or damaged proofs lose most of that premium.

The myth to ignore

Social media is full of posts claiming ordinary modern Mexican coins are worth thousands. For the standard 2008 Matamoros 5 pesos, that is not true. It was made in large numbers for circulation and it is easy to find. Real value in this series is limited to genuine mint errors and the sealed proof silver pieces. Most "error" coins people post online are just post-mint damage: dings, corrosion, or scratches that happened after the coin left the mint. Those add nothing.

How to tell if yours is genuine

Counterfeits of a low-value circulation coin are rare, but if you want to verify:

• Weigh it on a jewelry scale. It should be 9.76 grams.
• Measure the diameter. It should be 30.52 mm.
• Check the detail. Genuine strikes have sharp relief and clean color separation between ring and center. Fakes tend to look flat or have smeared coloring.

For the proof silver version, confirm it is in the original Banco de México capsule and case. That packaging is a large part of the value.

Where to sell it

If you have the ordinary circulation coin, it is not worth shipping or grading; a local collector or coin shop will take it for a small amount. For the proof silver version, sell it through a verified numismatic shop in the Pesoteca directory that can appraise it on the spot, or list it on the Pesoteca buy and sell forum where collectors know what a sealed proof is worth. Photograph the obverse, reverse, and edge, and keep any original packaging. Avoid dumping it to the first buyer on social media.

If you think you have a genuine mint error, post clear photos on the Pesoteca forum so the community can confirm it before you sell.

Have a whole box of inherited Mexican coins and no idea what's in it? Post your photos on the forum and let collectors tell you which ones are worth setting aside.

Mariano Matamoros Guridi: priest and second-in-command of Morelos's army

Mariano Matamoros Guridi (1770-1814) was a priest and second-in-command of Morelos's army during the War of Independence.

Matamoros served as parish priest in Jantetelco (Morelos) when in 1811 he joined Morelos's troops. He commanded the right flank at the battle of San Agustín del Palmar (1812) and at the capture of Oaxaca (1813). Captured at the battle of Puruarán in January 1814, he was executed by firing squad in Valladolid on February 3 of that year.

Context of the year. The piece is from 2008 and honors the second line of command of the southern army. In 1813 Matamoros was, together with Galeana, the military pillar on which Morelos leaned.

The reverse of the coin. The reverse of this 5-peso piece shows the portrait of Mariano Matamoros Guridi, 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 border city of Matamoros in Tamaulipas, the town of Izúcar de Matamoros in Puebla, and streets in Morelia bear his name. Morelos offered two hundred royalist prisoners for his rescue.