Mexico Silver Libertad Onza

Introduced in  1982 the 1 oz Mexican Silver Libertad coin has been minted by Casa de Moneda de Mexico, the oldest mint in the Americas with 2 different designs. The more commonly seen version of the coin feature a scene from the Mexican Independence Victory Column, the winged Victoria that is based on Roman designs. In her right hand is a wreath to stand for victory, while in her left hand is the broken chain to represent Mexico’s freedom. In the background there are two volcanoes called Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl (celebrating two lovers) pictured from a pre-Spanish legend. The reverse of these coins shows the eagle consuming the snake on a cactus in the middle of the coin from the Mexican National Seal. Around this image is a variety of historic Mexican coats of arms. Over the national seal is the Spanish name for Mexico proclaimed as “Estados Unidos Mexicanos.”

The 1 oz Mexican Silver Libertad coin encapsulates a wealth of history within its artistic rendering. The Silver Libertad Coin contains one troy ounce of .999 pure silver. These coins feature no face value, but instead specify that the coin is 1 oz Pure Silver with the inscription “1 ONZA PLATA PURA” on the obverse.

The obverse design features the Winged Victory statue in the forefront and the Mexican volcanoes Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl in the background. The reverse design displays the current official Seal of Mexico surrounded by historical Mexican Coats of Arms.

In 1991, the Mexican Mint added four fractional sized Mexican Silver Libertads to the bullion series. The new sizes included the 1/2 oz., 1/4 oz., 1/10 oz. and the 1/20 oz.. In 1996, the Mexican Mint added two coin sizes to already popular silver Libertad series, they were the 2 oz. and 5 oz. The Libertad’s design and its limited mintage make it one of the most highly sought after physical bullion silver investments.

In 2002, the Mexican Mint introduced the ‘Proof’ version of the 1 kilo. Mexican Silver Libertad for collectors. It wasn’t until 2008, that the Mint started to produce a 1-kilo. ‘Bullion’ version of the silver Libertad.

Mexican Independence

Libertad translated in English means ‘Freedom’

The Libertad is a symbol of Mexico’s Independence, Mexico won its independence from Spain on August 24th, 1821. However, this is not the date of its celebrated ‘Independence Day,’ that date is September 16th.

On September 16th, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest, started the Mexican War of Independence when he gave his famous speech “Grito de Dolores” or “Cry of Delores,” named after the town in Guanajuato where it took place. He rang the bell of his church to get the town’s attention, and he called on the people to rise against their Spanish-European occupiers.

Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla is often referred as ‘The Father of Mexico.’ In the United States, ‘Cinco de Mayo’ is often misinterpreted as Mexico’s Independence Day. Although ‘Cinco de Mayo’ or the ‘5th of May’ does celebrate an important victory in Mexico’s history, it’s not the county’s Independence Day.

The Story Behind the Mexican Coat of Arms

In the early 1300s, an Aztec tribe also known as the Mexica tribe, who had no homeland, wandered around the northern areas of the country, known as Mesoamerica, in search of a place to build their Empire. As the legend goes, in 1323, the tribe’s leader received a vision in a dream that they were to settle at the place where they saw an eagle with a snake in its beak, while perched at the top of a prickly pear cactus. Two years later, the dream was fulfilled on a swampy island, in Lake Texcoco. Scouts for the tribe found the eagle, snake, and cactus in the same fashion that the leader described to them, in his vision. This is where the tribe settled and built the city of Tenochtitlan, which became the center of the Aztec Empire. Today, Tenochtitlan is known as Mexico City.