Introduction to the Commemorative Coin Initiative
The federal government has proposed minting three commemorative coins for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The initiative outlines the number of coins, their nominal value, composition, and the process for determining official designs.
Number of Commemorative Coins
The proposal includes the issuance of three distinct commemorative coins:
- A pure gold coin
- A pure silver coin
- A bimetallic coin
Each coin will feature a design related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and official elements of the Mexican state, as determined by the Bank of Mexico.
Nominal Value of 2026 World Cup Coins
According to the proposed decree, the nominal values are as follows:
- Gold coin: 25 pesos
- Silver coin: 10 pesos
- Bimetallic coin: 20 pesos
The document clarifies that, for gold and silver coins, the nominal value is merely illustrative since their pricing will be linked to the international market price of precious metals contained in each piece.
Features of the Gold Coin
The gold coin will have a circular shape, a diameter of 23 millimeters, and a total weight of 7.776 grams (equivalent to a quarter ounce of pure gold with a minimum fineness of 0.999).
The obverse will display the Mexican National Shield with the legend “Estados Unidos Mexicanos,” while the reverse will feature a design related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the denomination “$25,” and the mint mark of the Mexican Mint.
Features of the Silver Coin
The silver coin will also be circular, with a diameter of 40 millimeters and a weight of 31.103 grams (equivalent to one troy ounce of pure silver with a fineness of 0.999).
Similar to the gold coin, the obverse will showcase the Mexican National Shield. The reverse will contain a motif related to the 2026 World Cup, along with the denomination “$10.”
Features of the Bimetallic Coin
The third coin will be a dodecagonal (12-sided) bimetallic piece, with a diameter of 30 millimeters and a total weight of 12.67 grams.
The central part will be made of a silver alloy, while the peripheral ring will consist of a bronze-aluminum alloy. This coin will include security features such as a latent image and microtext, along with a discontinuous serrated edge. The reverse will display the denomination “$20” and a design related to the tournament.
Design and Issuance
The decree stipulates that the Bank of Mexico will be responsible for finalizing the reverse designs within a maximum of 90 natural days following the decree’s publication in the Diario Oficial de la Federación.
Once the designs are determined, the coins can begin minting 30 days later, with the Mexican Mint making necessary technical adjustments for production.
No Budgetary Impact
The initiative states that the issuance of these coins will have no budgetary impact and won’t create new attributions for the involved agencies, according to evaluations by the Secretariat of Public Finance.
Thus, the executive aims to use numismatics as a means to commemorate Mexico’s third time hosting a World Cup while projecting the country’s cultural identity on a global stage.
Key Questions and Answers
- How many commemorative coins will be minted? Three: one in gold, one in silver, and one bimetallic.
- What are the nominal values of these coins? The gold coin is worth 25 pesos, the silver coin 10 pesos, and the bimetallic coin 20 pesos.
- What are the physical features of each coin?
- Gold coin: Circular, 23 mm diameter, 7.776 grams weight, minimum fineness of 0.999.
- Silver coin: Circular, 40 mm diameter, 31.103 grams weight, minimum fineness of 0.999.
- Bimetallic coin: Dodecagonal, 30 mm diameter, 12.67 grams weight, central silver alloy and peripheral bronze-aluminum alloy ring.
- Who will determine the coin designs? The Bank of Mexico, within 90 days of the decree’s publication.
- Will these coins have any budgetary impact? No, according to the Secretariat of Public Finance.
