Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 5 Centavos 1942-1955, KM# 424, Mexico
  • 5 Centavos 1942-1955, KM# 424, Mexico
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 a portrait of Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez to the left, value "Five cents" above, date below, mintmark on the right.

María Josefa Crescencia Ortiz Téllez- Girón, popularly known as Doña Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez or La Corregidora (1773–1829) was an insurgent and supporter of the Mexican War of Independence, which fought for independence against Spain, in the early 19th century. She was married to Miguel Domínguez, corregidor of the city of Querétaro, hence her nickname.

• CINCO CENTAVOS •
Mo
1955

Edge

5 Centavos

KM# 424 Schön# 37
Characteristics
Material Bronze
Weight 6.5 g
Diameter 25.5 mm
Thickness 1.75 mm
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mint
Mexican Mint (Mo)

Related coins

Large Type

Brass, 4 g, ⌀ 20.5 mm
Small Type

Brass, 2.75 g, ⌀ 18 mm

Stainless Steel, 1.58 g, ⌀ 15.5 mm