1995 Silver Libertad 1 oz (Type 1 "Gordita")

The 1995 Silver Libertad is worth at least its silver melt value, roughly USD 28 to 33 depending on the spot price, because it holds one full troy ounce of .999 pure silver. But this is the last year of the smaller 36 mm "gordita" design, and in high grade a certified example can sell for several hundred dollars. Here is what yours is actually worth in 2026.

What you have

The Onza Libertad (Spanish for "Liberty Ounce") is Mexico's official silver bullion coin, struck by the Casa de Moneda de México, the national mint. The 1995 issue is a one-ounce piece with these exact specs:

• Metal: .999 fine silver (pure silver)
• Weight: 31.103 grams (one troy ounce)
• Diameter: 36 mm
• Edge: reeded (grooved)
• Obverse: the Mexican Coat of Arms surrounded by historical national arms
• Reverse: the Winged Victory (the Angel of Independence statue) with the Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes behind her

Collectors call the 1982 to 1995 coins the "gordita" (Spanish for "chubby one") because they measure 36 mm, smaller and thicker than the 40 mm coins minted from 1996 onward. That size difference is the fastest way to tell which type you have. 1995 is the final year of the smaller type, which is why it gets more collector attention than the modern issues.

What it's worth

Any genuine 1995 Silver Libertad has a floor at melt value: one troy ounce of pure silver, currently around USD 28 to 33 as silver spot moves. That is the number a coin shop or bullion dealer will start from for a circulated or handled example.

Above melt, condition drives everything. The 1995 had a modest mintage compared to later years, so uncirculated and certified pieces command a premium.

Condition	What it means	Approximate value (USD)
Circulated / handled	Scratches, toning, everyday wear	Melt value, about 28 to 33
Brilliant Uncirculated (raw)	No wear, original luster, uncertified	40 to 90
MS-67 to MS-68 (NGC/PCGS)	Certified high grade	150 to 400+
MS-69 / top pop	Certified near-perfect, few known	Several hundred to over 1,000

The key point: a raw, worn coin is worth its silver. A certified high-grade coin is worth a multiple of that. If yours looks flawless and mirror-bright, it may be worth having it graded before you sell.

The myth to ignore

Age alone does not make this coin valuable. A 1995 Libertad is not "old" in numismatic terms, and the vast majority trade near melt. What creates the premium is grade and the fact that it is the last gordita, not the date being from the 1990s. Ignore any listing claiming a common 1995 Libertad is worth thousands "because it's rare." The rarity is in the top certified grades, not in the coin sitting in a drawer.

How to tell if yours is genuine

Because this is a precious-metal coin, counterfeits exist. Check these before you buy or sell:

1. Weigh it. A real one is 31.103 grams on a jewelry scale. Fakes are often off.
2. Measure it. The 1995 type is 36 mm across. A 40 mm coin is a later date, not a 1995.
3. Check the relief. Genuine strikes have sharp, deep detail. Cast fakes look flat or soft.
4. Be suspicious of cheap offers. No one sells real silver below its melt value. An offer well under spot is a red flag.

When in doubt, third-party grading from NGC or PCGS confirms authenticity and grade at the same time.

Where to sell it

For the best price without middleman markup:

• A verified numismatic dealer will appraise and pay on the spot, often close to melt for common examples and a premium for certified pieces.
• The Pesoteca buy-and-sell forum connects you directly with collectors who pay more for the gordita type than a bullion desk will.

Photograph the obverse, reverse, and edge in good light before you list. Compare your grade against the table above so you know your floor. For anything that looks uncirculated, get a quote from a collector before selling to a dealer at melt.

Not sure whether your 1995 Libertad is the smaller gordita or a later type, or whether it's worth grading? Post clear photos in the Pesoteca forum and the community will help you pin down the type and a realistic value.

1 troy oz Libertad silver 1995 Regular BU

This piece is the silver 1 troy oz Libertad, struck by the Mexico City Mint in 1995 in its Regular BU version.

Technical spec. It contains 31.1 g of pure silver, .999 fineness, and measures 40 mm in diameter. The reverse bears the effigy of the Angel of Independence, chosen by Banxico as the official symbol of the series since 1981. The obverse shows the National Coat of Arms in its pre-1969 version, alongside other historical coats of arms as a family identity mark.

Role within the set. It is the flagship piece of the series. Its annual mintage is the highest of the whole set and it is Mexico's official bullion reference. Collectors and physical silver investors always chase this denomination first.

Context of the year. In 1995 Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon was in power. The Tequila Crisis made GDP fall 6.2%. Demand for safe-haven metals rose and with it the interest in the Onza.

Regular BU finish. The Regular finish, cataloged by Banxico as satin or BU, is obtained with dies without special polishing. The result is an even matte luster across the whole surface, without mirror contrast between fields and reliefs. It is the traditional bullion finish: bought for its weight in pure silver plus a modest die premium. It is the version collectors seek to build the complete set by year without decapitalizing on each piece.

Mintage. The exact mintage of this combination does not appear in the Bank of Mexico's public 2000-2025 tables. For pieces outside that range, the specific Mint catalog must be consulted.