1911 Peso Caballito, Long Ray MS (KM-453)

The 1911 Un Peso Caballito is part of the series of Coinage Reform of 1905, when the motto ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS was added to coinage. The Caballito, a/k/a The Little Horse Pesos were struck from 1910-1914. The 1911 Caballito Long Ray (type 2) variety accounted for the majority of coins produced in 1911. The new adjusted dies were placed in service early in February 1911. Struck in Mexico City and designated as a Business (MS) strike, this coin is made of 0.9027 silver, 0.0973 copper. It has a combined mintage for both Long and Short Ray types of 1,227,000.

The 1911 Long Ray Caballitos are struck with type 2 dies.

The 1911 Caballito “long ray” (rayo largo) type die had the formerly short ray extended for balance. This lengthened ray now filled the space where Pillet's name originally appeared on the patterns. Pillet lengthened the ray for symmetry.

Additionally, the adjustments included enhancing the entire relief with greater detail.  The improvements become obvious when examining the two types side by side. 1911-LR Caballitos are more frequently seen with proof-like (PL) surfaces than  other dates.

Obverse Description

The Obverse features the Mexican coat of arms, depicting the Aztec legend of a Mexican Eagle grasping a snake in its beak and right claw while standing on a Prickly Pear Cactus on a rocky outcrop on Tenochtitlan in Lake Texcoco. Estados Unidos Mexicanos appears above, Oak and Laurel wreath below. Un Peso in bold letters in field on either side of Cactus. Lenticular pattern around face of outer edge.

Reverse Description

The Reverse of the Caballito is the money side as we say in numismatics. It depicts a young woman rider, symbolically representing Liberty, side sitting on an unshod Mexican bucking horse that carries no saddle. Both the horse and rider face to the left. The female rider holds a torch raised high in her left hand as she looks to the rear while urging the horse forward. The flames of the torch flow horizontally to the right. Her right hand holds a branch from an Encino Oak. Liberty is wrapped in loose flowing cloth representing the fabric of society. The Horse has no saddle, no bridle or reins. Behind the horse and rider is a radiant rising sun with its crown breaking above the earth sending 14 rays of light into the sky. Around the outer face is an alternating "lenticular" pattern interspersed with "snaps". The date on the coin sits in the space below the textured ground the horse stands upon, with a raised dot on either side.

Source: Allan Schein