HomeCollecting StrategiesThe Case for Buying Fractional Mexican Silver Libertads

The Case for Buying Fractional Mexican Silver Libertads

By Al Doyle for CoinWeek …..
It’s no secret that collectors at every level are drawn to low-mintage dates like dogs to a meat wagon. Hundreds of pages of mintage figures (low ones, to be specific) is one of the factors that keeps the Red Book a success after more than 65 years.

There’s one dilemma that often accompanies the desire to obtain scarcer coins. The cost is usually beyond the means of budget-minded collectors, but there are enough exceptions to the general rule to make this anything but a distant dream. The possibilities expand dramatically for the person who is willing to looking beyond U.S. coin options. In this instance, the very collectible series has it origins just across the border.

fractional_libertadIn addition to the long-running series of one-ounce Libertad silver bullion coins, the Casa de Moneda (the Mexican national mint located in Mexico City) also strikes BU and proof versions in 1/20, 1/10, 1/4 and 1/2-ounce sizes. If bigger is better is your motto, there are also two-ounce silver Libertads available for collecting.

So why are the little Libertads infrequently found at American coin shops and shows? The modest mintages might seem to be the obvious reason, but it goes deeper than that. The Casa de Moneda nullifies its skill at producing attractive products with lethargic marketing. To cite a blatant example (I can’t speak for 2013), the Mexican mint only displayed coins at some of the past American Numismatic Association summer conventions while competing world mints did brisk business.

The fractionals were first offered in 1991. Uncirculated mintages ranged from 50,000 to 50,618 for the four pieces. Why the discrepancy and not a uniform number? It was similar to pre-1950 U.S. proofs where the option of individual pieces was offered. Collectors can buy singles at the annual Mexico City coin show, and they have been shown (and quite possibly sold) at the summer ANA convention.

Don’t go overboard when buying 1992-dated fractional Libertads, as they were struck in much greater numbers than any other year. For some reason, the Casa de Moneda cranked out 295,783 1/20-ounce, 299,983 1/10-ounce, 104,000 1/4-ounce and 119,000 1/2-ounce silvers. What could be the reason for such a large and varied run of smaller Libertads? It certainly wasn’t due to rising silver prices, as the metal was languishing in the $5/ounce range. A failed attempt at marketing the pieces to the jewelry trade? The need to keep employees working during a slow stretch?

Annual production tapered off and hit minimal levels in 1998. Just 6,400 apiece of the silver fractionals were struck. That number nudged up to 8,000 1/20 and 1/10-ounce pieces in 1999 along with 7,000 each of the 1/4 and 1/2-ouncers. Perhaps Y2K fever and the desire to own a 2000-dated keepsake helped push mintages to 20,000 to 57,500 in the millennial year.

Bullion wasn’t nearly as popular prior to 2007 as it is today, and the mundane market is reflected in fractional Libertad mintages that ranged from 15,000 to 50,000 for the smaller pair and 15,000 to 35,000 for the 1/4 ounce and 1/2-ounce versions. Want a key date? Just 3,500 of each smaller Libertad was struck in 2007. That number doubled to 7,000 in 2008 and rose to 10,000 1/20 and /10-ounce pieces along with 9,000 of the 1/4 and 1/2 -ouncers in 2009. In an exception to the general rule, 20,000 each of the 1/4 and 1/2-ounce Libertads carry a 2010 date as compared to 12,000 of the 1/20 and 1/10-ounce pieces. Figures for 2011 and 2012 have not been released.

Proof versions were struck in much smaller quantities. The 1992 run of 5,000 sets was the high point for the decade. Mintage figures of 800 in 1996, 300 in 1997 and 600 in 1998 are the kind of numbers that grab the attention of collectors. Values in the Standard Catalog are more of a starting point than carved in stone pricing.

Moving to the 21st century, mintages for the proof silver fractionals were 1,000 in 2001, 2,800 in 2002, 2,500 in 2004, 2,400 in 2005 and 2,900 in 2006. Single proofs along with sets are available in the secondary market. So what is the best source for smaller silver Libertads? As with many coins that aren’t mainstream items, eBay has the largest selection of dates and sizes. It would be wise to study prices for awhile before becoming an aggressive buyer. Standard Catalog values are a good general reference, but prices are very fluid and ever fluctuating.

Combine an attractive design in silver with a series that has a history of low mintages, and you have the fractional Libertads of 19xx to date. It’s a logical option for the low-budget collector.

* * *

Al Doyle
Al Doyle
Al Doyle has written about coins for several different publishers, including the columns "$100 and Under" (2013- ) and "Budget Minded" (2022- ) for The Numismatist. Al has also written for the Chicago Tribune newspaper.

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Park Avenue Numismatics Gold and Silver Bullion

AU Capital Management US gold Coins

Doug Winter Numismatics Branch Mint Gold