5-ounce coins of the Pre-Columbian Collections

Each collection had one silver 5-ounce design.

The Aztec Collection

Piedra de Tizoc

The Piedra de Tizoc (Tizoc Stone) is a large monolith that was discovered in the Templo Mayor. Its designs celebrated the victories of Tizoc, who was the Aztec emperor from 1481 to 1486. It may also symbolise the ritual passing of the throne from Tizoc to his brother Ahuitzotl after Tizoc’s untimely death. It is currently in the National Museum of Anthropology.

The design on the coin is a motif that is repeated 14 times around the edge of the stone itself: two male warrior figures, the one on the left garbed as an Aztec god, holding the one on the right by the hair, a pose traditionally signifying defeat. The symbol in the coin’s border is one of two simplified Aztec glyphs for “crocodile”, as depicted on the Stone of Moctezuma I.

This coin, denominated 10,000 pesos, was issued in 1992 in Brilliant Uncirculated and Proof.

KM 557 1992 5 oz, $10,000 Proof (Stack’s-Bowers auction 28 February 2025, lot 77577)

The original denomination was demonetised by the Coinage Reform of 1992, so in 1993, the design was reissued in the new 10-pesos denomination, in both Brilliant and Proof.

KM-650 1992, 5 oz, $10 New pesos

The Central Veracruz Collection

Pirámide de El Tajín

The Pirámide de El Tajín (Tajín Pyramid) depicts the Pyramid of the Niches, located in the Totonac city. The stepped pyramids of El Tajín are visually dramatic, a quality enhanced by the niches and jutting cornices on the tiers. The Pyramid of the Niches has a total of 365 such niches, suggesting its use for calendar and ritual purposes. The coin’s border is based on patterns in the bas-reliefs found in the El Tajín zone.
Coins, denominated 10 new pesos, were issued in 1993 in Brilliant Uncirculated and Proof.

KM 570 1993 5 oz, $10 New Pesos (Stack’s-Bowers auction 17 May 2024, lot 34423)

KM-570 1993 5 oz, $10 New Pesos Proof (Stack’s-Bowers auction, 28 February 2025, lot 77579)

The Mayan Collection

Pirámide del Castillo

The Pirámide del Castillo (Pyramid of the Castle} was dedicated to the Mayan god Kukulcán. As the Mayan version of Quetzalcóatl, Kukulcán was the creator of the universe and was related to the four seasons. The border design was inspired by Mayan glyphs.

Silver 5-ounce coins, denominated 10 new pesos, were issued in 1994 in Brilliant Uncirculated and Proof. Two varieties exist: the common variety is dated 1994 with the legend PIRAMIDE / DEL / CASTILLO. The rare variety is dated 1993 and has the legend PIRAMIDE / DEL / CASTILLO / CHICHEN-ITZA. When it was originally released, it was catalogued as “extended legend”, but it was soon found to be an error. All unsold specimens were melted: it is estimated that only about 25 to 30 survived.

KM-576 1994 5 oz, $10 New Pesos

The Olmec Collection

Cabeza Olmeca

The Cabeza Olmeca (Olmec Head) depicts one of the most iconic sculptures of the Olmec culture, and this coin’s design is based on San Lorenzo Head 1, located at the Museum of Anthropology in Xalapa. The emblem repeated in the coin’s border design is based on the shape of the Jaguar Man’s mouth.

Silver 5-ounce coins, denominated 10 pesos, were issued in 1996 in Brilliant Uncirculated and Proof. The design was issued again in 1998 in Brilliant Uncirculated only.

KM-599 1995 5 oz, $10 

The Teotihuacán Collection

Pirámide del Sol

The Pirámide del Sol (Pyramid of the Sun) is located in Teotihuacán.

The repeated shape in the border is often found on ceremonial braziers honouring the fire-god Huehuetéotl.
Silver 5-ounce coins, denominated 10 pesos, were issued in 1997 in Brilliant Uncirculated and Proof, and in 1998 in Brilliant Uncirculated only.

KM-563 1997 5 oz, $10 

The Toltec Collection

Atlantes Figures

The 5-ounce coin depicts three of the Atlantes statues, found in the temple of Quetzalcóatl in the archaeological zone of Tula. The statues are Toltec warriors, holding weapons that fire darts in their right hands and several arrows in their left. Each warrior wears a chest shield in the shape of a butterfly, a skirt tied in front with a wide belt, and a circular back shiels representing the sun. The butterfly-shield motif is repeated in the border surrounding the field.

Silver 5-ounce coins, denominated 10 pesos, were issued in 1998 in Brilliant Uncirculated and Proof.

KM-634 1998 5 oz, $10