1913/2 Peso Caballito MS (KM-453)

The 1913/2 Caballito was issued after Coinage Reform of 1905 when the motto ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS was added to coinage.   This series of Pesos was minted from 1910-1914. The 1913/2 Caballito (type 2) has numerous varieties struck from unused dies previously prepared for the 1912 issue that were over-struck with the numeral 3. The date adjusted 3/2 dies used for 1913 production were minted in Mexico City and designated as a Business (MS) strike. The Caballito Peso is made of 0.9027 silver (often referred to as "Mexican Silver" for the higher silver content),  and 0.0973 copper. It has a mintage of 2,880,000.

The 1913/2 Caballitos are struck with type 2 dies.

1913/2 Caballitos have been identified with at least 5 different varieties. With the Casa Moneda originally being authorized to strike 1,000,000 Horse Pesos in 1912, the 322,000 minted fell well short of the annual goal. As a result, dies already prepared but unused were over-struck with the numeral 3 for use the following year. This accounts for the wide variety of 1913/2 over-dates. Both PCGS and NGC attribute the Schein 3/2 date varieties.

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