1920 Mexican 20-centavos (bronze)

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The 1920 Mexican 20-centavo in bronze. A very large and heavy coin for that metal, with a diameter of 32.5mm, and weighing 15.00g (contemporary British pennies were 31mm, and 9.40g). Struck only in 1920 and 1935, this coin—which in isolation looks like something impressive and permanent—is in reality a piece of emergency money.

The price of silver began spiking in the mid- to late-teens, and in 1919, Mexico’s silver 20-centavos was forced into a weight reduction from 5.00g to 3.63g. But silver prices continued to rise sharply, so Mexico introduced this very large copper dated 1920.

The postwar bubble soon burst, however, and silver prices quickly retreated. Mexico was able to reintroduce its silver 20-centavo piece (also dated 1920), with an additional slight reduction in weight, but this time with a decrease in fineness from .800 to .720 silver.

With the end of the silver crisis, production of this big bronze 20-centavos promptly stopped, not to be renewed until 1935. The reason for the renewal? Another spike in silver prices.

Mexico’s bronze 1920 20-centavo piece…emergency coin.

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