Mexican 5 Pesos Álvaro Obregón (2008): Value & Prices

If you inherited or found a Mexican 5 Pesos coin honoring Álvaro Obregón dated 2008, here is the honest answer: the regular circulation version is worth about its face value, roughly a quarter in US dollars. The proof version with the .925 silver center is the one collectors actually pay a premium for. This page shows you which one you have and what each is worth in 2026.

What this coin actually is

This is a bimetallic 5 Pesos coin struck by Banco de México (Banxico, the Mexican central bank) in 2008. It belongs to a commemorative series called "Centenario de la Revolución Mexicana" (Centennial of the Mexican Revolution). This particular piece honors Álvaro Obregón, a general from Sonora who served as president of Mexico from 1920 to 1924.

There are two versions, and the difference decides whether your coin is worth pocket change or a modest premium:

• Circulation version: the everyday coin that went into normal use. Common.
• Proof version: struck with a mirror finish, with a solid .925 silver center, and sold by Banxico in an official case (estuche). Limited mintage and the one with real collector value.

Specifications (keep these exact)

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

The proof version has a silver center. That gives it a small floor of intrinsic metal value on top of its collector demand. The circulation version does not carry meaningful silver value.

What it is worth in 2026

Let's be straight about it. The circulation 5 Pesos Obregón is one of dozens of coins issued in this Revolution centennial program, and most people who "found something old" have this common version.

Version	Typical value (USD)
Circulation, worn	Face value, around 0.25
Circulation, uncirculated	A few dollars
Proof with silver center (in Banxico case)	Higher premium, commands a real markup over face

The proof version is the one worth pursuing. Its value depends on the case being intact, the coin being untouched, and the certificate present. Prices for these proof pieces move with the collector market and the silver spot price. If you have the sealed capsule and original Banxico case, do not crack it open, that packaging is part of the value.

The "it must be worth a fortune" myth

Because this coin says "Centenario," some sellers online confuse it with the famous Centenario gold coin, the 50 Pesos gold bullion piece that contains 1.2 troy ounces of gold and sells for well over 2,000 dollars depending on the gold market. This 5 Pesos Obregón is a completely different coin. It is not gold, and the circulation version is not a rare find. If someone tells you a common 2008 circulation 5 Pesos is worth hundreds of dollars, that is not correct.

See our page on the 50 Pesos Centenario gold coin if that is the piece you actually have.

Are there valuable minting errors?

Genuine, verifiable mint errors (off-center strikes, die rotation, double strikes, edge variants) can multiply the value of any modern coin. Collectors do distinguish some variants of this issue by fine details of the die or edge. The catch: most "errors" people post online are post-mint damage (dings, corrosion, scratches), not factory errors. Before you assume you found a rare mistake, get a second opinion. Post clear photos on the Pesoteca forum and let experienced collectors weigh in.

How to tell if yours is genuine

1. Weigh it. A jewelry scale should read about 9.76 g. Meaningfully off means trouble.
2. Measure the diameter. It should be 30.52 mm with calipers.
3. Check the edge. It should be smooth (plain), not reeded.
4. Look at the relief. Fakes often show flat detail and poorly separated colors between the ring and center.
5. Confirm the finish. A proof has a true mirror background and frosted design. A circulation coin does not.

Where to sell it

To sell your 5 Pesos Obregón at a fair price, use a verified dealer from the Pesoteca shop directory, where you get an on-the-spot appraisal, or the Pesoteca buy-and-sell forum among collectors. Photograph the obverse, reverse, and edge, and compare the specs above before you sell. Do not dump it to the first bidder on social media, and if it is a sealed proof, keep it in its original case.

Got the sealed proof version or think you spotted an error? Post your photos on the Pesoteca forum and we'll help you pin down exactly what you have.

Alvaro Obregon Salido: revolutionary general, president of Mexico between 1920 and 1924

Alvaro Obregon Salido (1880-1928) was a revolutionary general, president of Mexico between 1920 and 1924 during the Mexican Revolution.

Obregon defeated Villa at the battles of Celaya (April 1915), where he lost his right arm to an artillery shot. As president he began the educational reform with Jose Vasconcelos at the head of the SEP and signed the Bucareli Treaties with the United States in 1923.

Context of the year. The piece is from 2008 and places Obregon as a decisive military strategist and as the first civilian president from Sonora. In 1915 his victories in the Bajio marked the end of Villismo as a military force.

The reverse of the coin. The reverse of this 5-peso piece shows the portrait of Alvaro Obregon Salido, his engraved signature and the year 2008, in accordance with the official catalog of the Bank of Mexico for the commemorative series of the Centennial of the start of the Revolution (1910-2010).

Legacy. The Alvaro Obregon borough in Mexico City, Ciudad Obregon in Sonora and several avenues bear his name. He was assassinated at the La Bombilla restaurant in San Angel in 1928.