Mexican Silver Libertads

The Coveted Mexican Silver Libertad

The Mexican Silver Libertad is one of the world’s major silver bullion coins for sale. Available from the Mexican Mint, the Silver Libertad coin was introduced in 1982 and includes a total of three different versions. The mint has long offered the bullion coin and proof version dating back to the 1980s. In the early 2000s, the Mexican Mint introduced a proof-like version of the Silver Libertad available only in a 1 Kilogram weight. You can learn all about the varieties, design, and availability of the Mexican Silver Libertad below!

Mexican Silver Libertad Bullion Coin Background

The Mexican Silver Libertad bullion coins hold the distinction of being the first-ever silver bullion coin introduced for investors. The South African Gold Krugerrand was the first popular bullion coin, introduced in 1967. This was followed by the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf in 1979, but the Mexican Silver Libertad became the first annual-issue silver bullion coin when it was released in 1982.

Originally, the Mexican Mint offered the bullion Silver Libertad in just the 1 oz silver weight. From 1982 to 1991, the Silver Libertad was available only in this singular weight. In 1992, the Mexican Mint introduced the 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz, and 1/20 oz coins to the series. After just four years, the Mexican Mint again expanded the series to include a 2 oz and 5 oz silver coin for the 1996 issue year. The latest addition to the bullion coins came in 2008 when the 1 Kilogram coin was introduced.

With a few notable exceptions, the Mexican Mint has issued each of these weights in every year since their individual introductions. Those exceptions include the 2012 1/20 oz Silver Libertad, which was not offered, as well as the 2013 and 2014 1 Kilogram Silver Libertads, which were also not struck by the mint.

Mexican Silver Libertad Proof Coin Background

The Proof Mexican Silver Libertad Coins have a similar background to the bullion version, with just a few variations. The Proof Silver Libertad debuted in 1983, but wasn’t regularly issued until 1986. The 1 oz coin remained the only option until 1992, when the mint rolled out the fractional weights mentioned above in a proof version as well. As with the bullion version, 1996 also saw the introduction of 2 oz and 5 oz proof silver coins for sale in the series.

However, there are two differences worth noting. First, there is no 1 Kilo Proof Mexican Silver Libertad coin as there is with the bullion version. Second, and more important to collectors, the mintage figures for the Proof Silver Libertads are much lower. For example, the 2018 1 oz Mexican Silver Libertad has a reported mintage of 936,000 coins. Conversely, the 2018 1 oz Proof Mexican Silver Libertad has a mintage of just 10,000 coins.

Mexican Silver Libertad Proof-like Coin Background

Though there is not a 1 Kilo Proof Silver Libertad, there is an option for investors who coveted larger silver coins. The Mexican Mint introduced a 1 Kilogram Proof-like Mexican Silver Libertad in 2002. This coin has low mintage figures which have yet to surpass 1,800 coins in any given year. In 2017, a high-relief strike of the 1 Kilo Proof-like Mexican Silver Libertad was also introduced.

The primary difference between the Proof Silver Libertads and the Proof-like Silver Libertads is the depth of the visual brilliance. While the Proof Silver Libertads have frosted designs and deeply-mirrored backgrounds, the proof-like 1 Kilo coin has hints of both of these elements in its visual appeal without reaching the same level of visual quality.

Design of Mexican Silver Libertads

The Mexican Silver Libertad coins have featured the same design elements on the obverse and reverse since 1982 in focus, but not necessarily in exact appearances. When the series was introduced in 1982, the Mexican Mint revived the designs from the historic gold Centenario coin from 1921. The obverse of the coins featured the modern coat of arms of Mexico from 1982 to 1999. This design includes a powerful Mexican golden eagle in left-profile relief with its talons and beak controlling a rattlesnake as the bird sits perched on a prickly pear cactus. Below it is an oak-and-laurel wreath, with “Estados Unidos Mexicanos” inscribed above it. In 2000, the Mexican Mint altered the design field on the 1 oz, 2 oz, and 5 oz silver coins to feature 10 historic versions of the national seal around the modern depiction. When the 1 Kilo coin was introduced in 2008, it too featured the combined modern seal with a ring of 10 historic versions.

On the reverse of the Mexican Silver Libertad upon its debut in 1982 was the original depiction of Winged Victory. This vision of the national personification was directly from the Centenario and captured her figure in front-facing relief. She holds up a wreath crown in her right hand with broken chains in her left hand. There is a notched edge design element with the mountains of Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl in the background field. In 1996, a new design was released that captured Winged Victory from the same source, the statue at the top of the Mexican Independence Victory Column, but now featured her image from a three-quarter side portrait instead with greater visibility of the mountains in the background field.

Availability of Silver Libertads

Like many other bullion coins, the investment-grade Mexican Silver Libertad coins are struck to meet the demand of investors. The highest single-year mintage figure among the bullion Silver Libertads is 2.458 million for the 1992 1 oz Mexican Silver Libertad. The fractional weights were most popular when first introduced in 1992. In the 2010s, most of the fractional weights, 2 oz, and 5 oz silver coins have surpassed 10,000 coins in a given year.

The Proof Mexican Silver Libertads have much lower mintage figures, with the Mexican Mint often capping the mintage figure for each weight to ensure collectible value for the coins.

Buy Your Mexican Silver Libertads Now!

Please feel free to reach out to JM Bullion if you have any questions about buying silver in general or the Mexican Silver Libertad in particular. You can reach out to our customer service team at 800-276-6508, chat with us live online, or simply send us an email with your inquiries.