PMG's Featured Note of the Month: Mexico Peso

Posted on 2/20/2024

As Leap Day approaches, we take a look at a banknote celebrating a calendar-related artifact, the Aztec Sun Stone.



Mexico, Banco de Mexico 1957 1 Peso graded PMG 67 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ Click images to enlarge.

Country: Mexico

Catalog Number: 59a

Date: 1957

Denomination: 1 Peso

Varieties: Pick# 59a includes the Series of FW through GF. The PMG Population Report also records examples of Pick# 59c through 59h, which have subsequent two-letter Series identifiers, as well as Pick# 59i through 59l, which have three-letter Series identifiers starting with the letter B. The Population Report also includes numerous Specimens, Remainders and Proofs associated with this catalog number.

What makes it special? The front of the banknote shows the Aztec Sun Stone, also called the Aztec Calendar Stone. Twelve feet in diameter and weighing over 27 tons, this important artifact was discovered in 1790 in Mexico City during repairs to the city's cathedral. It was buried shortly after it was carved, likely in the early 1500s during the reign of Montezuma II.

Did you know? The stone currently resides in Mexico City's National Museum of Anthropology. At the center of the stone is what is believed to be a sun deity, surrounded by four glyphs representing four previous eras. The ring outside of that area contains glyphs for the 20 days of the Aztec calendar, which contains 18 months.

Total graded by PMG: As of mid-February 2024, the PMG Population Report includes 22 examples of Pick# 59a and nine Pick# 59as Specimens. The Population Report lists 1,048 other issued notes, 90 other Specimens, 4 Proofs and 2 Remainders.

PMG median grade: PMG 65 Gem Uncirculated EPQ for Pick# 59a; PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ for all issued notes

PMG highest graded: The PMG Population Report lists two examples of Pick# 59a in PMG 67 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ. The champion of all notes with this catalog number is one example of Pick# 59i graded PMG 69 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ.

Sales highlights: A Specimen graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ realized $168 at a Stack's Bowers sale in October 2021. Issued examples are considerably less expensive. For instance, two examples of Pick# 59a were included in a lot of 13 PMG-certified notes from Mexico that realized $216 in a Heritage Auctions sale in June 2023.

PMG Registry: This note is part of several Mexico categories, including the most popular: Mexico 1920-Date, Type Set, Issued Notes, which is led by Collectoroldthings's Mexico, which has a Pick# 59a graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ. It is also part of Printed By ABNC, 1925-Date, Issued Notes, Complete, Including Varieties, which is led by theplaceintexas's BancoMexico#2, which has filled the slots for Pick# 59d, 59e, 59f, 59g, 59i, 59j, 59k and 59l.

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PMG's Featured Note of the Month: Mexico Peso

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