Fifty pesos coins (1921-1992)
Gold - Centenario
In 1921 Alvaro Obregón, in a decree dated 22 September, created a new $50 coin, both to ease commercial transactions and to celebrate the centenary of the achievement of Mexico’s IndependenceDiario Oficial de la Federación, Tomo XIX, Núm. 21, 28 September 1921.
KM-481 $50 1931 (Stack’s-Bowers auction 26 August 2025, lot 41451)
This 'Centenario', designed by Emilio del Moral, contains 37.5 g (1.20565 troy ounces) of gold in an alloy of 90% gold and 10% copper. Its diameter was 37 mm and its weight 41.6666 g. Minyage was
| Year | Mintage | |
| 1921 | 180,400 | |
| 1922 | 462,600 | |
| 1923 | 431,800 | |
| 1924 | 439,400 | |
| 1925 | 716,000 | |
| 1926 | 600,000 | |
| 1927 | 606,000 | |
| 1928 | 538,000 | |
| 1929 | 458,000 | |
| 1930 | 371,600 | |
| 1931 | 136,860 | 1 over 0 |
| 1944 | 592,900 | |
| 1945 | 1,012,000 | |
| 1946 | 1,588,000 | |
| 1949-1972 (with date 1947) | 3,975,654 | |
| 1996 (with date 1947) | 7,954,777 | |
| 2000-2009 (with date 1947) | 302,000 |
Some 309,000 coins were originally struck in 1947, followed by 3,975,654 restrikes during the same year(?). The originals and the restrikes are indistinguishable. The restrikes in the 1990s and 2000s can be distinguished from the 1947 restrikes by their prooflike and matte finishes (respectively).
KM-481 $50 1931 1 over 0 (Stack’s-Bowers auction 26 August 2025, lot 41450)
The 1943 mintage is somewhat special because of the double "37.5 Gr Oro Puro" markings, leaving out the "50 pesos" legend, The mintage was 89.400.
KM-482 1943 $50 Centenario (Stack’s-Bowers NYINC auction 27 January 2025, lot 30135)
The coin is not intended to be used as currency; the face value of 50 pesos is for legal purposes only, and does not reflect the actual value of the gold content.
The original Centenario design was used in the later Libertad Series of gold and silver bullion coins.
Type 1 – Coyolxauhqui
A new $50 coin was authorised by Jose Lopez Portillo on 21 December 1981Diario Oficial, 28 December 1981.
KM-490 1982 $50 (Stack’s Bowers auction, 28 February 2025, lot 77560)
These were composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel, had a diameter of 36 mm and weight of 19.63 g.
| Year | Mintage | |
| 1982 | 222,890,000 | |
| 1983 | 45,000,000 | |
| 1984 | 73,537,000 |
Type 2 - Juárez, copper-nickel
KM-495 1984 $50
These were composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel, had a diameter of 23.6 mm and weight of 8.55 g.
| Year | Mintage | |
| 1984 | 94,216,000 | |
| 1985 | 298,000,000 | |
| 1986 | 50,000,000 | |
| 1987 | 210,000,000 | |
| 1988 | 80,200,000 |
Type 3 - Juárez, steel
KM-495a 1992 $50
These were composed of stainless steel, had a diameter of 23.6 mm and weight of 7.17 g.
| Year | Mintage | |
| 1988 | 353,300,000 | |
| 1990 | 180,000,000 | |
| 1992 | 85,520,000 |