Obverse: identify the front

The genuine 1919 obverse shows the Mexican national arms: an eagle holding a snake above a cactus, with the surrounding ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS legend. The reference identifies this face as national arms. Preserve the full rim and legend when photographing a specimen. Similar arms appear on other denominations and alloys, so this face alone does not establish silver content.

Reverse: identify the back

The genuine reverse shows the 20 value, CENTAVOS, the visible 1919 date, a Liberty cap with rays and a surrounding wreath. The date and denomination are identification cues; the reference separately records the Mo mintmark. A bright surface does not establish proof finish, silver purity or authenticity.

History and purpose

The matching dated KM436 table lists one issue year: 1919. It explicitly identifies a reduced-size twenty centavos with3.625g gross mass and19mm diameter. The broader 1905–1919 melt-group label does not prove that earlier twenty-centavo designs have these reduced specifications. Later .720 twenty-centavo issues must be identified separately.

How to identify this variant

Read both complete faces and distinguish 20 centavos from pesos or other centavo values. The matching standard is 3.625g gross mass, 0.8 silver fineness and 19mm diameter, with years 1919. Earlier heavier twenty centavos, later .720 standards, bronze pieces, patterns and replicas are excluded. Wear can reduce measured weight; a scale, magnet or photograph alone cannot assay silver or identify every die variety. Keep uncertain pieces separate.

Understanding its metal content

The calculator uses the reference’s rounded reference ASW of 0.0932 fine silver troy ounce per matching coin. Three coins contribute 10.875 nominal gross grams and 0.2796 fine silver troy ounces. Gross mass includes alloy metals and is not itself the silver weight. An avoirdupois ounce and a troy ounce differ. Dollar melt pricing remains unavailable until an approved provider supplies a current quote; no missing value is displayed as $0.

Dates, varieties and composition changes

The inspected reference KM436 annual table lists 1919. Its note identifies mintmark Mo and reduced size. No additional date, proof finish, die variety or restrike is supplied by that table; none is invented here. Retain full photographs, the actual date and measurements before applying this nominal standard.

Melt value versus collector value

Keep date, mint attribution, overdate evidence, finish and original surfaces with each specimen. An overdate or scarce die combination may affect collector interest without changing a matching nominal alloy calculation. The displayed metal amount does not measure grade, rarity or demand. Avoid cleaning; preserve provenance and any reputable certification rather than relying on shine or the calculator for a valuation.

Authenticity and condition

The licensed photo pair documents one genuine representative 1919 coin's visible design. It does not certify another specimen, assay its silver, establish a proof or attribute an unseen edge. Supply complete obverse, reverse and edge photographs, plus measured mass and diameter where possible. Plated pieces, cast copies, mismatched dates, tokens and uncertain variants require separate investigation.

Selling this coin

Sort these 20 centavos by actual date and standard before combining quantities. Keep .800 and .720 silver, heavier and reduced-size issues, bronze pieces and uncertain coins separate. The photo-appraisal link carries the selected quantity into CashForCoins' existing enquiry form. An actual offer may consider condition, authentication and collector demand as well as metal content; the educational calculation is not a bid.

Sources and calculation methodology

The designated reference World Silver reference and matching dated 436 record agree on 3.625g/.800/0.0932 fine silver troy ounce. Diameter is 19mm. Actual annual rows supply 1919. The assigned URL is retained even when its original envelope is broader. Edge, thickness, remaining alloy-metal identities and unlisted finishes are not independently verified. The dated reference annual/specification/design table supplies the explicit issue list and mint notes. No reference valuation, mintage table or article is reproduced. The genuine 1919 joined photograph is independently CC0-released by the account Inri; its page leaves the photographer unspecified. The observed960px asset is split into complete faces, with only margin cropping and WebP conversion. There is no enlargement, retouching or synthetic reconstruction.

Common questions

References

• NGC designated World Silver Coin Melt Values — designated weight; fineness; reference silver ounces; broader group heading (checked 2026-10-11)
• Mexico ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS 20 Centavos KM# 436 dated type — dated identity; weight; fineness; reference ounces; diameter; dates from annual rows; design; mint and variety notes (checked 2026-10-12)
• CC0 genuine 1919 paired photograph — genuine representative photograph; independent photographic permission; uploader account; unspecified photographer (checked 2026-10-12)

Issue-year references

• Mexico ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS 20 Centavos KM# 436 dated type

Content maintained by CashForCoins. Last substantive record update: 2026-10-12. Report a specification or attribution issue through our contact page.

Related coins

Mexican .800 Silver Ten Centavos — 2.5 g Standard

Photo credits and rights on the linked coin profile.

Mexico • 80% silver; remaining alloy metals not independently verified

Issue years: 1905–1907, 1909–1914

Fine silver: 0.064300 troy oz

Add to collection

Mexican .720 Silver Ten Centavos — 1925–1935 Issues

Photo credits and rights on the linked coin profile.

Mexico • 72% silver; remaining alloy metals not independently verified

Issue years: 1925–1928, 1930, 1933–1935

Fine silver: 0.038400 troy oz

Add to collection