Often we get so caught up in the world of numismatics focusing only on value and precious metal composition that the design aspect can sometimes be the background note. The coin has to have some sort of design, so why does it always have to mean something? While the design in some cases takes a backseat, there are other instances where it provides a looking glass into a country’s culture and history. That is certainly the case for our next coin breakdown in our blog series covering Whitman Publishing’s 100 Greatest Modern World Coins compilation. Bringing together two different country’s artistic influences while also celebrating newfound independence, authors Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker take us along on the journey of a pattern coin that inspired coins decades after its demise.
#69 - Mexico 1909 Caballito Peso Pattern
The release of the Mexico Caballito peso coin in 1910 came at the same time the country was celebrating its 100th anniversary of its independence from Spain during the Mexican War of Independence. The depiction of a horse galloping with the Goddess of Liberty was a central focus and could not have been more on time as Mexico during that time was a country that was in the midst of a revolution. However, the revolution that many were rising up to fight in was against a corrupt government. In fact, it was against a government that issued the coin itself. This pattern coin design sounded as an alarm to tyrants.
Designed by French medalist Charles Pillet, the Caballito peso design was ultimately limited to the larger peso coin. In response, Pillet reworked the design and shipped a number of pattern coins dated 1909 across the Atlantic Ocean to the Paris Mint to be struck. According to a Caballito peso expert, the patterns were double struck to bring out more detail in addition to the 1909 patterns being slightly different than the ones that were used in production. The 1909 Caballito peso pattern coins are rare and there are only 30-40 known in all varieties and finishes.