Mexico peso

1 peso, 1984

Jose Maria Morelos was born in Valladolid, New Spain; after the independence, the city's name was changed to Morelia in his honor in the new state of Michoacán. He became a Catholic Priest at the age of 33.

In 1810 he began to raise armies for Miguel Hidalgo's rebellion against Spain. He became leader of the rebellion after Hidalgo's death. Responsible for major military victories throughout the South of Mexico (including Oaxaca and the port of Aculpulco). In 1813 Generalisimo Morelos called the first congress of free states, the result of which was Mexico's Declaration of Independence. During the proclamation of Mexico's first Constitution, Morelos was appointed as one head of an executive triumvirate.

In 1815 Morelos was captured by Spanish forces and tried by the Viceroy's military court and the Inquisition. He mounted an excellent defense, but eventually broke down in fear for his soul and revealed extensive military information required by the Viceroy, at times even providing military analysis and suggestions for pacification. He was defrocked and executed by firing squad, leaving the independence movement in the hands of Vicente Guerrero.

Morelos is immortalized by a 130 foot hollow statue in his likeness at the pinnacle of the ancient island of Janitzio on Lake Patzcuaro, Michoacan.

1 peso, 1981
Metal: copper-nickel
diameter: 29mm`
Obverse: Jose Maria Morelose Y Pavon

5 peso, 1980

Quetzalcoatl: This 5 peso coin shows Quetzalcoatl on the obverse. The word quetzalcoatl means feathered serpent in the language Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs. He was a legend and one of the important gods along with Tlaloc, Tezcatlipoca and Huitzilopochtli . One of the beliefs regarding quetzalcoatl is that he would come from the sea on the East and that will be a time of dramatic upheavals and purgations. Because of this belief and the described appearance, when Cortez arrived, he was percieved to be quetzalcoatl and this was one of the reasons of the quick downfall of Montezuma and the Aztecs, though this viewpoint is highly arguable and many scholars dont accept this hypothesis as only personal records of Cortez support this theory. No records have been found as far as Aztec documents are concerned.

10 peso, 1978

Miguel Hidalgo Y. Costilla : (born May 8, 1753, Corralejo, near Guanajuato, Mexico—died July 31, 1811, Chihuahua) Catholic priest who is called the father of Mexican independence.

Ordained a priest in 1789, he had an uneventful early career, though his interest in the economic advancement of his parishioners in Dolores, through the introduction of newer methods of agriculture, made him suspect by the Spanish authorities. In 1808 Spain was invaded by French troops, and Napoleon forced the abdication of King Ferdinand VII in favour of the French emperor's brother Joseph Bonaparte. Though Spanish officials in Mexico were loath to oppose the new king, many Mexicans formed secret societies—some supporting Ferdinand, others independence from Spain. Father Hidalgo belonged to such a group in San Miguel, near Dolores. When the plot was betrayed to the Spanish, several members were arrested.

Warned to flee, Hidalgo decided instead to act promptly. On September 16, 1810, he rang the church bell in Dolores to call his parishioners to an announcement of revolution against the Spanish. What he began in San Miguel as a movement for independence became a social and economic war of the masses against the upper classes. Thousands of Indians and mestizos flocked to Hidalgo's banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe, capturing Guanajuato and other major cities west of Mexico City. Soon Hidalgo was at the gates of the capital, but he hesitated and the opportunity was lost. His followers melted away. The responsible elements in Mexico were frightened by the prospect of social upheaval. After his defeat at Calderón on January 17, 1811, Hidalgo fled north, hoping to escape into the United States. He was caught, degraded from the priesthood, and shot as a rebel.

Though he accomplished little, Father Hidalgo's name became the symbol of the independence movement for most Mexicans, and September 16, the anniversary of the Grito de Dolores, is celebrated as Mexico's Independence Day.

10 peso reverse

20 peso, 1988

Guadalupe Victoria: Mexican soldier and political leader who was the first president of the Mexican Republic.

Victoria left law school to join the movement for independence from Spain, fighting under José María Morelos in 1812. He changed his name to show his devotion to the cause of Mexican independence (the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico, had been adopted as a symbol of the insurgency). After the death of Morelos, Victoria waged guerrilla war against the Spaniards from the mountains around Veracruz and Puebla. When Agustín de Iturbide came to power (1821), Victoria at first supported him, but by 1822, as Iturbide arrested all political opponents and dissolved the legislature, Victoria denounced him and joined Antonio López de Santa Anna’s successful revolt in 1823.

Victoria became Mexico’s first elected president (1824–29), but, while honest, unassuming, and a courageous general, he was not particularly suited for the presidency. The inexperienced administrator was not able to deal effectively with the constant political bickering and Byzantine machinations of government rivals, often being taken advantage of by those he trusted. It is small wonder that little progress was made domestically and the economy was in a shambles. During Victoria’s tenure in office, Iturbide was executed. In foreign affairs, Victoria managed much better and established relations with all the major powers. The bitterest blow of his term came in 1827 when his vice president, Nicolás Bravo, led a revolt against Victoria. It was easily suppressed by his comrades from revolutionary times, Generals Santa Anna and Vicente Guerrero.

20 peso, 1980
Metal: copper-nickel
Diameter: 32 mm
Theme: Mayan culture
Reverse: Figure with Mayan headress

100 peso, 1999

Venustiano Carranza: Born in 1859 as one of fifteen children of a wealthy landowner. Well educated. Entered politics as a municipal president. Later served as a state legislator, federal deputy and state governor under Díaz.

Joined with Madero in 1909 to plan an armed rebellion against Díaz. Minister of war in Madero's provisional government and later interim governor of Coahuila. Elected governor in December 1911. Assumed leadership of the rebellion against Huerta. Named First Chief of the Constitutionalists.

Elected president in 1917. Tried to install a candidate favorable to him in the 1920 presidential election. Obregon, who was a candidate for president, rebelled. Carranza tried to flee to Veracruz. On May 20. 1920, he was killed as he slept in a small wooden hut in San Antonio Tlaxcalantongo.