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Mexico’s Lower House Backs New 10- and 20-Peso Coin Specs, Sends Plan to Senate

The plan now heads to the Senate, with backers citing lower minting costs plus stronger anti-fraud features.

Overview

  • Deputies approved two measures 395–66 to change the 10‑peso coin’s materials and standardize the 20‑peso coin’s design, forwarding both to the Senate for review.
  • The 10‑peso coin may use a steel core with a nickel coating in its center without altering size or appearance, with a mass of 4.39 g and a tolerance of ±0.17 g.
  • The 20‑peso coin adopts a uniform Temple of Kukulkán design on a dodecagonal bimetallic piece—alpaca center and bronze‑aluminum ring—weighing 12.67 g with a ±0.51 g tolerance.
  • Security and accessibility features include microtext reading “CHICHÉN ITZÁ, TEMPLO DE KUKULKÁN–PATRIMONIO CULTURAL,” a latent “20,” larger denomination markings, and a discontinuous reeded edge.
  • Lawmakers frame the update as a way to cut production costs, ensure material availability, and preserve machine compatibility, while critics say it reduces material value; existing coins remain legal tender until Banxico sets withdrawal timing.