Obverse. Photo © imperial-k.ru
  • 5 Pesos 2008, KM# 897, Mexico, 100th Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution, José Vasconcelos
  • 5 Pesos 2008, KM# 897, Mexico, 100th Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution, José Vasconcelos
Description

The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle c. 1910–1920 that radically transformed Mexican culture and government. Its outbreak in 1910 resulted from the failure of the 35-year long regime of Porfirio Díaz to find a managed solution to the presidential succession. Wealthy landowner Francisco I. Madero challenged Díaz in 1910 presidential election, and following the rigged results, revolted under the Plan of San Luis Potosí. Armed conflict ousted Díaz from power and a new election was held in 1911, bringing Madero to the presidency.

In February 1913 Madero and his vice president Pino Suárez were forced to resign, were assassinated, and the counter-revolutionary regime of General Victoriano Huerta came to power, backed by the U.S., business interests, and other supporters of the old order. Huerta remained in power from February 1913 until July 1914, when he was forced out by a coalition of different regional revolutionary forces. Then the revolutionaries' attempt to come to a political agreement following Huerta's ouster failed, and Mexico was plunged into a civil war (1914–1915). The armed conflict lasted for the better part of a decade, until around 1920. Over time the Revolution changed from a revolt against the established order under Díaz to a multi-sided civil war in particular regions with frequently shifting power struggles among factions in the Mexican Revolution.

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

José Vasconcelos Calderón (1882 – 1959) has been called the "cultural caudillo" of the Mexican Revolution He was an important Mexican writer, philosopher and politician. He is one of the most influential and controversial personalities in the development of modern Mexico. His philosophy of the "cosmic race" affected all aspects of Mexican sociocultural, political, and economic policies.

CENTENARIO DE LA REVOLUCIÓN
$5 Ṁ 2008
JOSE VASCONCELOS
MÉXICO 2010

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Bi-Metallic
Ring Stainless Steel
Center Aluminium Bronze
Weight 7.07 g
Diameter 25.5 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mint
Mexican Mint (Mo)

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