Mexico 2017 Silver Libertad

The 2017 Silver Libertad is a Mexican .999-fine bullion coin that is available in a range of more than a half dozen sizes, including fractional issues. Libertad silver coins are produced by the Casa de Moneda de Mexico, which is known in English as the Mint of Mexico and was established in 1535. It is the oldest mint in North America. The Mexican Libertad has been minted since 1981 and is available in gold and silver varieties (it was also once offered as a platinum Proof coin). The one-ounce Silver Libertad was first struck in 1982 and since 1991 has also been minted in an array of other sizes. The Libertad predates most other popular modern bullion coins with only a few exceptions (such as the Canadian Maple Leaf and the South African Krugerrand).

The Libertad features a reverse depiction of the winged goddess Victoria as portrayed on the Mexican Independence Victory Column before a backdrop of the Popocatépetl and Iztaccihuatl volcanoes. While this famous design is technically seen on the reverse, its beauty and familiarity to collectors well beyond Mexico is by far more recognizable than the obverse, which is anchored by the Mexican National Coat of Arms.

The Libertad is actively bought and sold by bullion investors and coin collectors alike; among American hobbyists it is often included in sets of world coins. While most world bullion coins have a nominal currency value the silver Mexican Libertad does not carry a stated face value. Rather, the legal-tender coins have a floating value that is quoted on a daily basis by the Banco de Mexico and is based on the coin’s silver spot market value. In the United States, Libertads are regularly offered by many major bullion coin dealers and are commonly available in large quantities.

The Libertad is minted as a business strike, a Proof and a few other special numismatic finishes. For the 2017 silver issues, Libertads are available in a variety of sizes, including 1/20 ounce, 1/10 ounce, 1/4 ounce, 1/2 ounce, 1 ounce, 2 ounce and 5 ounce coins.

2017 Silver Libertad Design

Obverse:

The obverse design features Mexico’s National Coat of Arms, which depicts a Mexican eagle perched on a cactus with a snake writhing in its beak. The coat of arms is contained within a circular design element, with the bottom half of the circular border composed of a wreath and the top half indicated by the legend ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS, which in English translates as Mexican United States. Surrounding this central obverse feature are 10 smaller versions of the national seal, all featuring the Mexican eagle in various symbolic poses.

Reverse:

The Statue of the goddess Winged Victory, otherwise known as El Angel de la Independencia, or The Angel of Independence in English translation, dominates the reverse of the 2017 Libertad. The 24-karat gold-leafed bronze statue is a world-famous landmark weighing seven tons, standing 148 feet tall and located in downtown Mexico City. The Winged Victory statue shows the soaring Angel of Independence carrying a laurel crown in her right hand symbolizing victory and a broken chain in her left, which signifies freedom, or the coin’s Spanish namesake “Libertad”. On the coin, the goddess is seen outstretching her right hand above the grand Mexican landscape, which in the background captures the twin peaks of the Popocatépetl and Iztaccihuatl volcanoes.

The reverse scene, even though it shows neither the urban jungle of Mexico City nor depicts the wreath and broken chain seen on the iconic statue, is nevertheless rooted in realism. The Angel of Independence is seen striking approximately the same physical pose as she holds on the statue, and the peaks of the volcanoes, rising less than 50 miles southeast of the famous statue, really can be seen on clear days from Mexico City. Across the top half of the reverse along the rim is inscribed 1 ONZA PLATA PURA 2017 LEY .999, which translated into English essentially means 1 OUNCE OF PURE SILVER .999 FINE. The coin’s Mexico City mintmark, OM (a small “O” on top of a larger, capital “M”) is seen in the upper-right quadrant of the reverse field.

Edge:

The 2017 Mexican Silver Libertad has a reeded edge.

Coin Specifications

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