1885 Mexican 1 Peso

The 1885 Mexican 1 Peso was struck from silver mined in Guanajuato, a key source that kept the global market supplied during Porfirio Díaz's push for modernization.

That silver content, at about 90% purity, made these coins a reliable medium for trade in an era when Mexico's economy was expanding rapidly. The obverse features the national coat of arms—an eagle perched on a cactus, snake in its beak—while the reverse lists the denomination and date in a no-nonsense script. Variations exist due to die wear at the Mexico City mint, which churned out coins by the thousands.

Mintage figures for 1885 are murky; records from that period were poorly kept, and many were destroyed in later upheavals. Some specimens show evidence of being restruck from earlier blanks, a common but tedious practice back then. As for myths, I've heard enough about "cursed" coins to last a lifetime—most are just tarnished from sitting in drawers.