Quick Coinage Facts
Years Minted: 1955-1967
Composition: Bronze
Diameter: 23.5 mm
Weight: 5.5 grams
Total Series Mintage: 83,329,000
Obverse Design: National Arms
Reverse Design: Bust Design
Introduction
From 1947 to 1954 the Mexico City Mint produced no 10 centavos coinage but that would change with introduction of new coinage in 1955. The previous Aztec design was replaced with a tribute to Benito Juarez and coins were produced from 1955 to 1967 with a bronze composition but were issued intermittently for only 6 years during this period.
Benito Juarez was one of Mexico’s most notable political heroes similar to how Abraham Lincoln is viewed in the United States. Benito was president for five terms from 1858 to 1872 during Mexico’s most difficult period. He introduced social reforms that reduced Church powers and increased the power of Mexico’s citizens. Another interesting aspect was the he was of full-blooded Native American decent and the only full-blooded native to ever serve as president of Mexico.
Design
The obverse design features the Mexican coat of arms, an eagle clutching a snake while it perches on a prickly pear cactus. On the outer periphery is the phrase “ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS” or as translated to English “United Mexican States”.
The reverse design features a bust image of Benito Juarez facing left. On the outer periphery is the denomination “DIEZ CENTAVOS” (Ten Centavos) as well as the year of issue and mint mark “Mo” for the Mexico City Mint.
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General Market Notes
There are no rarities for the series and all examples are readily available. For a possible sleeper coin the 1955 issue deserves a look, with the lowest mintage of the series and being a first year issue coin give it potential but only in grades of brilliant uncirculated.