Obverse. Photo © Numista
  • 50 Nuevos Pesos 1993-1995, KM# 571, Mexico, Los Niños Héroes
  • 50 Nuevos Pesos 1993-1995, KM# 571, Mexico, Los Niños Héroes
Obverse

Depicts the seal of the United Mexican States.

The Seal of the United Mexican States is a modified version of the national coat of arms, with the addition of the full official name of the country Estados Unidos Mexicanos, in a semi-circular accommodation in the upper part of the seal. Current and past Mexican peso coinage have had the seal engraved on the obverse of all denominations.

The coat of arms depicts a Mexican golden eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus devouring a rattlesnake. To the people of Tenochtitlan this would have strong religious connotations, but to the Europeans, it would come to symbolize the triumph of good over evil (with the snake sometimes representative of the serpent in the Garden of Eden).

ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS

Reverse

Depicts six heads facing with date at upper right, all within circle and 1/2 wreath.

The Battle of Chapultepec in September 1847 was a battle between the invading US army and Mexican forces holding Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City during the Mexican-American War. During the battle, five Mexican military cadets plus one of their instructors, refused to fall back when General Bravo finally ordered retreat and fought to the death. These were teniente (lieutenant) Juan de la Barrera and cadets Agustín Melgar, Juan Escutia, Vicente Suárez, Francisco Márquez and Fernando Montes de Oca, all between the ages of 13 and 19. According to legend, the last of the six, Juan Escutia, grabbed the Mexican flag, wrapped it around himself and jumped off the castle point to prevent the flag from falling into enemy hands. The cadets are eulogized in Mexican history as Los Niños Héroes, the "Child Heroes" or Heroic Cadets.

N$ 50
Mo 1995
NIÑOS HÉROES

Edge

50 Nuevos Pesos

Los Niños Héroes

KM# 571
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Bi-Metallic
Ring Brass
Center Silver
Weight 33.967 g
Diameter 39 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mint
Mexican Mint (Mo)

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