1996 Mexico 1 oz Silver Libertad BU

The Mexican Silver Libertad joins Mexico’s pre-Columbian heritage with its new culture of independence. Containing .999 fine Silver, these Silver bullion coins are guaranteed by Banco de México. The Silver Libertad is available in a wide range of sizes including 1/20 oz, 1/10 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz, 1 oz, 2 oz and 1 kilo. Because of the limited mintages of the Mexican Silver Libertad, they are not commonly seen in North American portfolios, making this coin ideal for both investors and collectors.

Identical to its Gold counterpart, the design of the Silver Libertad is based on the 50 Peso Centenario issued between 1921 and 1947. Covered in images that are strongly symbolic of Mexico’s rich history, the Silver Libertad is widely considered one of the most beautiful coins ever made. The obverse of all Libertads feature the Mexican National Seal, while the 1 oz, 2 oz and 1 kilo Silver Libertads also feature the seal framed by various coats of arms used throughout Mexico’s history. The reverse of the coin boasts the Winged Victory statue, symbolizing Mexico’s independence from Spain. Behind her are two volcanoes that are part of pre-Columbian Mexican mythology: Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl.

According to legend, Iztaccíhuatl was the daughter of a great king and Popocatépetl was a strong and fearless warrior. The king promised Popocatépetl he could marry Iztaccíhuatl if he returned from battle victorious. After several months of combat, a rumor spread to Iztaccíhuatl that Popocatépetl had been killed in the war. Devastated, the princess refused to sleep or eat and finally fell ill and slipped away. A short time after this, Popocatépetl returned to find his beloved dead. Heartbroken, he took Iztaccíhuatl’s body into the wilderness to watch over her where his fate mirrored the fate of the princess. As the earth reclaimed their bodies, the two lovers became great volcanoes, with Popocatépetl keeping eternal watch over Iztaccíhuatl.

La Casa de Moneda de México, the national mint of Mexico, is one of the oldest mints in the world. Established by the Spanish Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza in 1535 under the authority of the Spanish Crown, La Casa de Moneda de México became the first mint in the Americas. The first coins struck by the mint were the Silver 8 Reales followed by the Silver peso. The Silver peso became widely circulated throughout North America and Asia well into the 1800s and served as the inspiration for many modern currencies including the Chinese yuan, the Japanese yen and the American dollar. Since 1983, all coins minted by the national mint of Mexico are produced in San Luis Potosí and the original site of the mint is now the headquarters for Museo Nacional de las Culturas in Mexico City.