5 Pesos Otilio Montaño 2009: Value & How to Sell

If you found a 2009 Mexican 5 Pesos coin with a man named Otilio Montaño on it, here is the honest answer: the regular circulated version is worth close to face value, roughly 25 to 30 US cents in 2026. The sealed proof version, the one with a real silver center in a Banxico case, is the one worth actual money to collectors. This page breaks down which one you have and what it commands.

What this coin actually is

This is a bimetallic 5 peso commemorative coin struck by the Banco de México (Banxico, Mexico's central bank) in 2009. It was part of a large program called the "Centenario de la Revolución Mexicana," a series honoring figures from the Mexican Revolution. This particular coin features Otilio Montaño, who co-wrote the Plan de Ayala with Emiliano Zapata.

The key detail for value: this coin exists in two very different formats, and they are not worth the same.

The two versions (this decides everything)

1. Regular circulation version. This is the one that went into everyday change in Mexico. It is bimetallic: an aluminum-bronze outer ring around a nickel-silver looking center. Despite the "5 Pesos Centenario" name, this is a normal circulating coin. If yours is scratched, worn, and came loose in a jar or drawer, this is almost certainly what you have. Value: face value, about 25 to 30 US cents.

2. Proof version (the valuable one). This was struck to proof quality, with a mirror finish, and sealed in an official Banxico presentation case. The center of the proof version contains .925 sterling silver. It was issued in a limited mintage and sold to collectors, not spent. If yours is in a plastic capsule inside a boxed case, this is the version worth paying attention to.

Specifications

Feature	Detail
Denomination	5 Pesos
Year	2009
Weight	9.76 g
Diameter	30.52 mm
Edge	Plain (smooth)
Alloy	Aluminum-bronze ring, silver .925 center (proof)
Finish	Proof (encapsulated) and regular circulation
Issuer	Banco de México (Banxico)

What is it worth in USD?

Be realistic here. The circulation version is a modern coin produced in quantity, so age does nothing for it. It trades at face value in worn condition, and only slightly above in bright, uncirculated condition.

Version	Condition	Approx. value (USD)
Circulation	Worn / used	~0.25 to 0.30
Circulation	Uncirculated	~1 to 3
Proof (silver center, cased)	Sealed, complete case	~15 to 40

The proof version's value comes from its limited mintage, its silver content, and collector demand for the full Centenario series. A complete boxed proof, unopened and undamaged, sits at the top of that range. A proof removed from its case, or with a scuffed capsule, drops toward the bottom.

Is the silver worth anything on its own?

Only the proof version has silver, and only in the center. The amount is small, so the melt value is modest and well below what collectors will pay for a complete cased proof. Do not break one out of its packaging for the silver. That destroys the collector premium, which is the only reason this coin is worth more than face value.

How to tell if yours is genuine

Modern commemoratives like this are not heavily counterfeited, but it is still worth a quick check:

• Weigh it. A genuine coin weighs 9.76 g. Use a jewelry scale.
• Measure the diameter. It should be 30.52 mm. Use calipers.
• Check the finish. A real proof has sharp, mirror-like fields. Flat relief, muddy detail, or wrong coloring points to a fake or to a damaged piece.
• Inspect the case. A legitimate proof comes in an official Banxico case with matching documentation. A silver-centered coin loose with no case is a red flag for tampering.

About "error" coins

Genuine mint errors (off-center strikes, die rotation, doubled dies) can multiply the value of a coin when they are real and verifiable. But most "errors" people spot online are post-mint damage: dings, corrosion, and machine wear that happened after the coin left the mint. If you think you have a real error, get it looked at before you assume it is valuable.

Where to sell it

For the circulation version, honestly, it is not worth shipping. Keep it as a curiosity. For the proof version:

• Post it in the Pesoteca buy-and-sell forum, where collectors who actually want the Centenario series will see it.
• Take clear photos of the case, the front, and the back before you list it.
• Check the value range on this page so you know a fair offer when you see one.
• Avoid dumping it to the first bidder on social media at a lowball price.

Since this is a Mexican coin, US coin shops may not price it well. A dealer or collector who knows the Mexican commemorative series will give you a more accurate read. See our guide to selling inherited Mexican coins and our overview of modern Mexican commemorative coins for more context.

Got the boxed proof and not sure if it is complete? Post photos of the case and coin in the Pesoteca forum and let collectors confirm what you have before you sell.

Otilio Edmundo Montaño Sánchez: rural teacher and co-author of the Plan de Ayala

Otilio Edmundo Montaño Sánchez (1877-1917) was a rural teacher and co-author of the Plan de Ayala during the Mexican Revolution.

Montaño was a rural schoolteacher in Villa de Ayala, Morelos, when he joined the Zapatista movement in 1911. Together with Zapata he drafted the Plan de Ayala, proclaimed on November 28, 1911, which demanded the immediate return of lands and disavowed Madero. He was shot in 1917 on suspicion of betraying Zapatismo.

Context of the year. The piece is from 2009 and honors the intellectual arm of Zapatismo. The Plan de Ayala turned a peasant demand into an articulated political program.

The reverse of the coin. The reverse of this 5-peso piece shows the portrait of Otilio Edmundo Montaño Sánchez, his engraved signature, and the year 2009, in accordance with the official Banco de México catalog for the commemorative series of the Centennial of the start of the Revolution (1910-2010).

Legacy. He is recognized as co-author of the founding document of Zapatismo. Rural schools in the state of Morelos bear his name.