Afternoon everyone….
You all know by now that I love old Mexican coinage. I have several graded silver coins. Plus numerous raw coins.
So today I’m going to share with you a five ounce silver Aztec Calendar round from the Golden State Mint.
On the obverse side of the coin is depicted the great Aztec emperor, Cuauhtémoc. He is an honored figure in history for his being the only Aztec emperor to survive the Spanish conquest. The Mexican people honor him everywhere by making statues of him and putting him on their coinage. The name, Cuauhtémoc, translates to “one who descends like an eagle” in reference to the determined, aggressive way an eagle swoops down on its prey. By all accounts, this emperor honored his name by governing in determination and aggressiveness.
The reverse of the coin depicts the Aztec calendar. The Aztec calendar is a very complex calendar that marks time in a very different way than we do. This calendar tracks 52 years and depicts the days in what to us would be an unusual way. We mark days, months, and years where they mark things like rabbits, and reeds and wind as well as what deity governs that particular year. In addition to giving what day it is, the Aztec calendar indicates what kind of a day it is going to be like our horoscopes. The Aztec calendar is unusual in its shape as well. It is round and so is a perfect fit for a coin.
For over 45 years the Golden State Mint has been making coins from Central Florida. They have made a name for themselves as a mint that delivers on fantastic coins using quality metals. They are serious about using cutting edge technology and often upgrade and add machinery to keep their production up to the quality standard they have set.