5 Pesos Cuauhtémoc (1947-1948): Silver Coin Value

Most Mexican 5 Pesos Cuauhtémoc coins are worth their silver content, roughly 20 to 25 USD each at 2026 silver prices, not a fortune. But this is real 90 percent silver, 30 grams of it, and clean uncirculated examples sell for more. Here is what drives the number and how to check yours.

What you actually have

The 5 Pesos Cuauhtémoc is a large silver coin Mexico struck for circulation in only two years, 1947 and 1948. It weighs 30 grams, measures 40 millimeters across, and has a reeded (grooved) edge. The reverse shows Cuauhtémoc, the last Aztec ruler, in profile wearing a feathered warrior headdress. The obverse carries the national coat of arms, the eagle devouring a serpent.

This is the 5 Peso coin with the highest silver content Mexico ever minted. It belongs to the era when the country still put high-grade silver into everyday money, something that stopped decades ago.

How much is it worth

Start with the metal, because that sets the floor. The coin is .900 fine silver (90 percent silver, 10 percent copper). Of its 30 grams, 24.6 grams are pure silver, equal to 0.868 troy ounces.

To get the melt value, multiply 0.868 by the current spot price of silver per troy ounce. At 2026 prices that works out to roughly 20 to 25 USD per coin. A common, worn example trades close to that melt figure. That is the minimum, before grade.

Condition is what separates a melt coin from a collector coin. Examples with original luster and no wear on Cuauhtémoc's face or the detail of the headdress command a premium over silver. High-grade, uncirculated pieces can sell for a meaningful multiple of melt, especially when certified.

Coin	Year	Mintage	Typical value (USD)
5 Pesos Cuauhtémoc	1947	5,110,000	Melt to ~50+ in high grade
5 Pesos Cuauhtémoc	1948	26,740,000	Melt to ~40+ in high grade

Exact premiums move with the silver market and the coin's certified grade, so treat these as ranges, not fixed prices.

Is it rare

Not in absolute terms. Between the two years Mexico struck more than 31 million of these coins. The 1947 date is the more sought-after of the two because its mintage was much smaller, about 5.1 million versus 26.7 million in 1948. Both dates are easy to find, so rarity alone will not make one valuable. Grade does.

If you inherited a roll or a handful of these, most will be worth silver value. The exceptions are pristine, never-circulated pieces and the harder 1947 date in top condition.

The ones people think are worth a fortune but aren't

Because the coin is big, heavy, and clearly old, it gets mistaken for something rare. It is not. With over 31 million struck, a worn 5 Pesos Cuauhtémoc is a silver coin, valued by weight, not a numismatic prize. The value story here is honest and simple: metal content plus a premium for genuine uncirculated quality.

Do not confuse this coin with the earlier and different Mexican silver types collectors chase for actual rarity. This one is common; its appeal is affordability and a satisfying amount of real silver.

How to check what yours is worth

1. Confirm it's genuine. A real example weighs 30 grams and measures 40 millimeters with a reeded edge. If the weight or diameter is off, or the edge is smooth, be suspicious. .900 silver has a distinct ring and heft.
2. Read the date. 1947 or 1948. The 1947 is the one worth flagging.
3. Judge the wear. Look at Cuauhtémoc's face and the headdress detail. Full detail with luster means collector value; smooth and dull means melt value.
4. Weigh melt. Multiply 0.868 by today's silver spot price for the floor number.
5. Get it appraised or sold. For high-grade pieces, third-party grading (NGC or PCGS) can justify the premium to a buyer.

If you want a professional weight check or an offer, use the Pesoteca shop directory to find dealers who buy Mexican silver by content or who sell certified examples. For related coins, see our guides on classic Mexican silver in the same era.

Have a 5 Pesos Cuauhtémoc sitting in a drawer and not sure if it's the 1947 or 1948? Post the date and a photo of Cuauhtémoc's face in the Pesoteca forum and we'll help you tell melt from money.