1 Escudo - Maximilian Empire

The 1 Escudo gold coin from Maximilian's Second Empire features his portrait on the obverse, a direct nod to European royal imagery amid Mexico's bloody power struggles.

That design choice was practical, not symbolic; the dies were likely prepared in Paris and shipped over, reflecting French backing for the regime. Struck at the Mexico City mint, these coins used standard gold alloy, probably 21 karats, though exact compositions vary by surviving specimens. Mintage figures are murky—records from that era were spotty, and many were destroyed in later conflicts.

Weighing about 3.38 grams, the coin's reverse shows the Mexican eagle on a cactus, a holdover from earlier designs. It's not rare, but uncirculated examples fetch a premium due to their short production run. As for myths, no, it wasn't cursed; that's just collector nonsense I've heard too often.