1958 Mexico Un Peso Silver Coin (Morelos)

This item is a 1958 Mexican Un Peso silver coin, commonly referred to as the 'Morelos' Peso due to the portrait of Jose Maria Morelos on the obverse. The visible side in the image shows the Mexican national coat of arms—an eagle perched on a cactus devouring a snake—surrounded by the text 'ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS' and 'UN PESO 1958'. Physically, these coins are composed of a silver alloy, specifically 0.100 (10%) fineness, which was a significantly lower silver content than previous eras. The coin appears to be in circulated condition with visible surface wear, dulling of the original luster, and significant dark grey-to-black toning or tarnish typical of low-grade silver. It is housed in a contemporary clear plastic sleeve with a yellow paper insert that reads 'OLD MEXICAN SILVER DOLLAR Minted from Real Silver SCARCE'. This marketing insert is likely from a third-party distributor or souvenir seller rather than a formal numismatic grading service. Despite the insert's claim of being 'scarce', these coins were minted in high volumes during the late 1950s. The craftsmanship reflects mid-20th-century industrial minting techniques, with a reeded edge and machine-struck details that show flattening on the higher points of the eagle design due to use.

I have examined the 1958 Mexico Un Peso silver coin via the provided imagery. The coin features the late-series Jose Maria Morelos design and is struck in a .100 fineness silver alloy. My visual inspection indicates the coin is in moderate circulated condition, likely grading between Very Fine (VF) and Extremely Fine (EF). There is notable flattening on the eagle's breast feathers and the snake's scales, along with significant dark oxidation (toning) across the fields. While the packaging labels it as 'Scarce' and a 'Silver Dollar,' these are marketing terms; the 1958 issue had a high mintage of over 27 million pieces, making it very common. The silver content is only 0.0514 troy ounces, meaning the bullion value is minimal. The market for these low-purity 'Morelos' pesos is driven primarily by entry-level collectors or novelty buyers rather than investors. Values remain stable but low due to the sheer volume of surviving specimens. Limitations: This appraisal is based on photographic evidence only. Authenticity is assumed based on the correct 'Ley .100' aesthetics and merchant packaging, but a physical examination is required to verify weight (9 grams) and diameter (34.5 mm) to rule out contemporary counterfeits or plated base-metal replicas. A professional numismatic scratch test or XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analysis would be necessary to scientifically confirm the 10% silver composition.