Caballito Silver Peso 1913 MS 62

This coin was minted during the heart of the Mexican Revolution, which lasted from 1910 to 1920. It began as a result of the fraudulent 1910 elections, when incumbent president Porfirio Diaz was reported to have won nearly 99% of the vote despite candidate Francisco Madero’s popularity. Madero denounced the results and called for rebellion. Diaz fled to Spain and Madero was elected, but he was overthrown in a coup in 1913. The next few years saw much instability, with different people attempting to gain power. An insurgent raid in New Mexico prompted U.S. military action against Mexico, but this conflict ended when the U.S. entered World War I. Mexico chose to remain neutral during World War I despite Germany’s attempt to form an alliance. This tumultuous period ended with Álvaro Obregón becoming president in 1920, the first of a series of revolutionary generals to hold office.

Obverse: ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS UN PESO (translation: United Mexican States One Peso) Eagle with open wings, eating a snake with head turned right, standing on a cactus growing out of a rock in the middle of a lake. Laurel and olive branches tied together at bottom.  This emblem was used during the Porfirio Diaz dictatorship and is sometimes called the 'Porfirian Eagle'.

Reverse: Liberty riding a horse, an oak branch on her right and a flaming torch on her left, with the sun rising on the horizon. 1913 at bottom.

Edge: INDEPENDENCIA Y LIBERTAD (translation: Independence and Freedom)

Reference KM 453