1994 Mexico 10 Nuevos Pesos Chichén Itzá Pyramid (5 oz Silver)

If you inherited a large, heavy Mexican silver coin showing a stepped pyramid, you own real money. The 1994 10 Nuevos Pesos Chichén Itzá coin contains 155.515 grams of pure .999 silver, roughly 5 troy ounces. Its value floor tracks the silver price, and in 2026 that alone puts it well above 150 USD, before any collector premium.

This is one of the most substantial silver coins Mexico ever struck for general release. At 65 millimeters across, it is bigger than a US silver dollar and heavier than a stack of them. That size, plus the pure silver content, is exactly why it holds value regardless of condition.

What you actually have

The coin is part of the Serie Precolombina (Pre-Columbian Series), a run of large silver pieces Mexico issued in the early 1990s celebrating ancient Mesoamerican cultures. Yours features El Castillo, the main pyramid at the Chichén Itzá archaeological site, built by the Maya. It belongs to the broader Nuevos Pesos 1992-1995 series.

Here is what to check on the coin itself:

• Obverse (front): the Mexican national coat of arms (an eagle on a cactus) with the legend "ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS," the face value "N$10," and "10 NUEVOS PESOS."
• Reverse (back): the Chichén Itzá pyramid, the inscription "155.515g PLATA PURA" (155.515 grams pure silver), the "Mo" mint mark of the Mexico City Mint (Casa de Moneda de México), and the year 1994.

Technical specifications

How much is it worth

The honest answer starts with the metal. Because the coin holds 5 troy ounces of pure silver, its melt value is the floor. Whatever the spot price of silver is on the day you sell, multiply by five and you have the minimum. In 2026 that is comfortably in the low-to-mid hundreds of USD, and it rises and falls with the silver market.

On top of melt, condition and packaging drive a premium:

• Circulated or handled, no packaging: expect close to melt value, plus a small dealer premium.
• Uncirculated, clean surfaces: melt plus a modest collector premium.
• Sealed in the original Banxico (Bank of Mexico) blister or presentation packaging: the strongest premium, since untouched examples with paperwork are what serious buyers want.

This is not a rare coin in the sense of a low-mintage error. Its value comes from silver content and demand from bullion buyers, not from scarcity. Do not expect "worth thousands" claims to hold up unless you have a top graded example. What you have is a solid, liquid piece of silver with a nice design on it.

Always confirm the current spot price before you sell, and cross-check against the coin condition grading guide.

How to tell if yours is genuine

With a heavy silver coin, fakes usually fail on physics. Two quick tests catch most of them:

1. Weigh it. Use a jeweler's scale. A genuine coin weighs 155.515 grams. A fake in base metal or thin plating will miss this, often by a wide margin.
2. Measure it. Use calipers. The diameter should be 65 mm. Counterfeits frequently get this wrong.

Beyond that, look for a flat, mushy strike, off colors, or a missing reeded edge. Real silver has a clean, bright tone. Be very suspicious of any offer priced far below the coin's silver value, that is a red flag on its own. If in doubt, post clear photos of the obverse, reverse, and edge to the Pesoteca forum for a second opinion.

Where to sell it

Because this coin is bought largely as silver, you want a buyer who prices it fairly against spot:

• A verified coin shop from the Pesoteca dealer directory will weigh it and quote you on the spot.
• The Pesoteca buy-and-sell forum puts you in front of collectors who may pay a premium for a sealed or uncirculated example.

Before you sell, photograph all sides, weigh the coin, and know the day's silver price so you can judge any offer. Avoid dumping it to the first buyer on social media, and only deal with people who let you verify the piece before money changes hands.

Got the original Banxico packaging, or think yours might be uncirculated? Post photos in the Pesoteca forum and let the community help you pin down the grade before you decide to sell.

The Castillo of Chichén Itzá is the most recognized stepped pyramid of the Maya world. Built in the Postclassic period, it is dedicated to Kukulkan, the feathered serpent. Its 91 steps per side plus the upper platform total 365, associated with the Maya solar calendar. The 1994 issue corresponds to the second series of the Banco de México's Pre-Columbian program, dedicated exclusively to the Maya culture. The Pre-Columbian program began in 1992 with the Aztec series and continued with Veracruz (1993), Maya (1994), Olmec (1996), Teotihuacan (1997), and Toltec (1998). The pieces were struck at the Mexico City Mint and offered to collectors and investors in parallel silver and gold denominations with coordinated motifs. International catalog reference: KM#576 (Krause/World Coins).