A fragment, not the whole monument
The numeral 5 dominates the reverse. Beside it, the centavo sign identifies a fraction of a peso; a date and the Mexican mint mark complete the monetary information.
Read the story →MEXICO CIRCULATING COINS
5 Centavos
Solar rays, in miniature
A small steel coin carries a precise fragment of the Sun Stone. Across families B and C, the value, round outline and principal reverse design continue.
ObverseNational Emblem
ReverseQuincunces · solar rays
1.58 gOriginal C nominal mass
15.5 mmDiameter
SteelComposition
PlainEdge
1993Modern-unit lineage
Banco de MéxicoIssuer
One small value across B and C
B · 1993
C · 1996Design references · transitions explained below
The modern monetary unit began in January 1993. Family B supplied the first modern 5-centavo coins; the C classification followed from January 1996.
Read the story →Round steel, a plain edge
The physical description is compact: stainless steel, a round outline and a plain edge. A five-sided arrangement inside the reverse is a design field, not the outer shape of the coin.
Read the story →LOOK CLOSER
The details behind the design
Identity, history and materials—read together.
01
A fragment, not the whole monument
The numeral 5 dominates the reverse. Beside it, the centavo sign identifies a fraction of a peso; a date and the Mexican mint mark complete the monetary information. The surrounding stylized rays come from the Anillo de los Quincunces of the Sun Stone. The issuer identifies that particular source. The coin does not reproduce the monument in full, and its ornament should not be relabelled as the motif used on one peso.
Source: Banco de México ↗02
One small value across B and C
The modern monetary unit began in January 1993. Family B supplied the first modern 5-centavo coins; the C classification followed from January 1996. Unlike the peso denominations, these centavo coins did not need an N$ inscription removed. The principal design, 15.5 mm diameter and 1.58 g nominal mass continued. Family labels therefore mark an official chronology without requiring two visibly different coin types.
Source: Banco de México ↗03
Round steel, a plain edge
The physical description is compact: stainless steel, a round outline and a plain edge. A five-sided arrangement inside the reverse is a design field, not the outer shape of the coin. This distinction matters when identifying a loose specimen. Read the denomination first, then check the outer rim and the national arms on the opposite face. The photographs show a dated design example, enlarged for study.
Source: Banco de México ↗04
Low value does not mean smallest diameter
Five centavos is the lowest value in this modern circulating denomination selection. Yet its 15.5 mm diameter is greater than the 14 mm diameter of the smaller D-family 10-centavo coin. Face value and physical size are separate attributes. Twenty pieces at five centavos make one peso by arithmetic; that relationship does not imply that every denomination follows a strict size ladder.
Source: Banco de México ↗05
Validity and everyday availability
Banco de México retains B-family examples among other valid designs and lists the C design in its current catalogue. These are official classification statements. They do not establish how often a shop receives the coin, whether banks order it regularly, or the final year in which every form was struck. No practical-frequency estimate is implied by this page.
Source: Banco de México ↗06
Read a date as evidence of that specimen
The photographed reverse reads 1998. It illustrates the C-era design and is not a claim that 1998 was the first release year. The beginning of a currency, the start of an official family and a date struck on an individual coin answer different questions. The register below records supported transitions; it does not turn every year into a separate design or supply an unverified annual mintage list.
Source: Banco de México ↗07
Eight values, eight selected details
The neighbouring 10-centavo design uses the Ring of Sacrifice, while 20 centavos uses Acatl. The 1-peso coin draws on the Ring of Splendour. Together these objects show how one historical image source can supply distinct modern monetary designs. Compare their issuer-given names and actual reverses rather than assuming that a shared source makes their motifs interchangeable.
Source: Banco de México ↗THE OBJECT
Specifications & material eras
| Family | Start of circulation / era | Diameter · mm | Mass · g | Composition | Edge | Official status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | 1993-01 | 15.5 | 1.58 | Stainless steel | Plain | Other valid design |
| C | 1996-01-01 | 15.5 | 1.58 | Stainless steel | Plain | Current catalogue |
On narrow screens, swipe the table sideways or focus it and use the arrow keys.
THE EVERYDAY OBJECT, IN NUMBERS
Coins in Everyday Mexico
AUGUST 2026 · 5 Centavos
1,080.679
million pieces in circulation
The monthly series began at 968.054 million pieces in January 1999. Its changing balance describes this denomination across designs and generations.
Scale: 0–2,000 million pieces
A denomination-level circulation balance, in millions of pieces. It is not annual mintage, newly issued coins, production, monetary value or how often a coin appears in change. The figures do not separate designs or coin families.
Read the monthly figures · 332 observations
Monthly periods; January 1999–August 2026. Scroll within the table for earlier values.
| Month | Million pieces |
|---|---|
| 2026-08 | 1,080.679028 |
| 2026-07 | 1,080.679118 |
| 2026-06 | 1,080.679132 |
| 2026-05 | 1,080.679164 |
| 2026-04 | 1,080.679165 |
| 2026-03 | 1,080.689165 |
| 2026-02 | 1,080.689175 |
| 2026-01 | 1,080.691293 |
| 2025-12 | 1,080.691293 |
| 2025-11 | 1,080.691394 |
| 2025-10 | 1,080.736393 |
| 2025-09 | 1,080.736554 |
| 2025-08 | 1,080.736554 |
| 2025-07 | 1,080.736587 |
| 2025-06 | 1,080.73681 |
| 2025-05 | 1,080.736934 |
| 2025-04 | 1,080.736934 |
| 2025-03 | 1,080.737013 |
| 2025-02 | 1,080.737017 |
| 2025-01 | 1,080.732017 |
| 2024-12 | 1,080.732018 |
| 2024-11 | 1,080.732016 |
| 2024-10 | 1,080.617134 |
| 2024-09 | 1,080.61715 |
| 2024-08 | 1,080.61715 |
| 2024-07 | 1,080.617172 |
| 2024-06 | 1,080.59233 |
| 2024-05 | 1,080.592514 |
| 2024-04 | 1,080.592469 |
| 2024-03 | 1,080.592549 |
| 2024-02 | 1,080.592549 |
| 2024-01 | 1,080.587562 |
| 2023-12 | 1,080.587562 |
| 2023-11 | 1,080.587827 |
| 2023-10 | 1,080.587638 |
| 2023-09 | 1,080.512639 |
| 2023-08 | 1,080.512529 |
| 2023-07 | 1,080.712531 |
| 2023-06 | 1,080.714376 |
| 2023-05 | 1,080.71433 |
| 2023-04 | 1,080.71413 |
| 2023-03 | 1,080.714131 |
| 2023-02 | 1,080.714132 |
| 2023-01 | 1,080.714132 |
| 2022-12 | 1,080.714132 |
| 2022-11 | 1,080.714124 |
| 2022-10 | 1,080.714124 |
| 2022-09 | 1,080.714124 |
| 2022-08 | 1,080.713946 |
| 2022-07 | 1,080.714379 |
| 2022-06 | 1,080.571394 |
| 2022-05 | 1,080.371388 |
| 2022-04 | 1,080.371388 |
| 2022-03 | 1,080.36484 |
| 2022-02 | 1,080.343546 |
| 2022-01 | 1,080.342253 |
| 2021-12 | 1,080.342253 |
| 2021-11 | 1,080.33429 |
| 2021-10 | 1,080.334287 |
| 2021-09 | 1,080.334287 |
| 2021-08 | 1,080.334287 |
| 2021-07 | 1,080.334287 |
| 2021-06 | 1,080.334287 |
| 2021-05 | 1,080.334287 |
| 2021-04 | 1,080.334287 |
| 2021-03 | 1,080.334287 |
| 2021-02 | 1,080.334287 |
| 2021-01 | 1,080.334287 |
| 2020-12 | 1,080.334287 |
| 2020-11 | 1,080.334287 |
| 2020-10 | 1,080.334287 |
| 2020-09 | 1,080.334287 |
| 2020-08 | 1,080.334287 |
| 2020-07 | 1,080.334287 |
| 2020-06 | 1,080.334626 |
| 2020-05 | 1,080.334626 |
| 2020-04 | 1,080.334626 |
| 2020-03 | 1,080.334626 |
| 2020-02 | 1,080.335923 |
| 2020-01 | 1,080.335814 |
| 2019-12 | 1,080.339982 |
| 2019-11 | 1,080.336555 |
| 2019-10 | 1,080.337205 |
| 2019-09 | 1,080.333715 |
| 2019-08 | 1,080.333709 |
| 2019-07 | 1,080.333974 |
| 2019-06 | 1,080.340053 |
| 2019-05 | 1,080.332543 |
| 2019-04 | 1,080.328769 |
| 2019-03 | 1,080.293659 |
| 2019-02 | 1,080.293496 |
| 2019-01 | 1,080.283707 |
| 2018-12 | 1,080.270227 |
| 2018-11 | 1,080.275255 |
| 2018-10 | 1,080.275276 |
| 2018-09 | 1,080.273697 |
| 2018-08 | 1,080.263571 |
| 2018-07 | 1,080.338558 |
| 2018-06 | 1,080.324057 |
| 2018-05 | 1,080.320997 |
| 2018-04 | 1,080.320674 |
| 2018-03 | 1,080.320512 |
| 2018-02 | 1,080.32019 |
| 2018-01 | 1,080.321098 |
| 2017-12 | 1,080.31761 |
| 2017-11 | 1,064.299482 |
| 2017-10 | 1,064.293928 |
| 2017-09 | 1,063.8835 |
| 2017-08 | 1,063.882662 |
| 2017-07 | 1,063.881869 |
| 2017-06 | 1,063.868515 |
| 2017-05 | 1,063.844831 |
| 2017-04 | 1,063.332439 |
| 2017-03 | 1,063.012377 |
| 2017-02 | 1,063.002343 |
| 2017-01 | 1,063.002921 |
| 2016-12 | 1,063.002901 |
| 2016-11 | 1,062.992802 |
| 2016-10 | 1,062.992802 |
| 2016-09 | 1,062.967685 |
| 2016-08 | 1,062.952562 |
| 2016-07 | 1,062.938636 |
| 2016-06 | 1,062.918628 |
| 2016-05 | 1,062.593379 |
| 2016-04 | 1,062.578738 |
| 2016-03 | 1,062.573777 |
| 2016-02 | 1,062.573676 |
| 2016-01 | 1,062.559817 |
| 2015-12 | 1,062.559816 |
| 2015-11 | 1,062.561024 |
| 2015-10 | 1,062.560996 |
| 2015-09 | 1,062.553172 |
| 2015-08 | 1,062.556073 |
| 2015-07 | 1,061.541044 |
| 2015-06 | 1,061.531003 |
| 2015-05 | 1,061.521354 |
| 2015-04 | 1,061.481325 |
| 2015-03 | 1,061.471141 |
| 2015-02 | 1,061.471131 |
| 2015-01 | 1,061.456117 |
| 2014-12 | 1,061.454061 |
| 2014-11 | 1,061.444027 |
| 2014-10 | 1,061.444008 |
| 2014-09 | 1,061.43896 |
| 2014-08 | 1,061.423651 |
| 2014-07 | 1,061.418898 |
| 2014-06 | 1,061.413882 |
| 2014-05 | 1,061.408864 |
| 2014-04 | 1,061.335128 |
| 2014-03 | 1,061.335692 |
| 2014-02 | 1,061.3256 |
| 2014-01 | 1,061.310181 |
| 2013-12 | 1,060.894418 |
| 2013-11 | 1,060.814447 |
| 2013-10 | 1,060.779446 |
| 2013-09 | 1,060.699434 |
| 2013-08 | 1,060.809334 |
| 2013-07 | 1,060.789307 |
| 2013-06 | 1,060.764293 |
| 2013-05 | 1,060.754289 |
| 2013-04 | 1,060.749251 |
| 2013-03 | 1,060.729206 |
| 2013-02 | 1,060.729158 |
| 2013-01 | 1,060.704155 |
| 2012-12 | 1,060.704118 |
| 2012-11 | 1,060.704104 |
| 2012-10 | 1,060.67408 |
| 2012-09 | 1,060.673993 |
| 2012-08 | 1,060.653961 |
| 2012-07 | 1,060.633958 |
| 2012-06 | 1,060.633938 |
| 2012-05 | 1,060.613933 |
| 2012-04 | 1,059.898903 |
| 2012-03 | 1,059.898895 |
| 2012-02 | 1,059.898894 |
| 2012-01 | 1,059.898895 |
| 2011-12 | 1,059.888892 |
| 2011-11 | 1,059.885892 |
| 2011-10 | 1,059.865886 |
| 2011-09 | 1,059.860833 |
| 2011-08 | 1,059.840791 |
| 2011-07 | 1,059.840682 |
| 2011-06 | 1,059.840653 |
| 2011-05 | 1,059.840646 |
| 2011-04 | 1,059.835639 |
| 2011-03 | 1,059.820562 |
| 2011-02 | 1,059.810543 |
| 2011-01 | 1,059.783489 |
| 2010-12 | 1,059.783275 |
| 2010-11 | 1,059.783236 |
| 2010-10 | 1,059.563211 |
| 2010-09 | 1,059.548078 |
| 2010-08 | 1,059.548063 |
| 2010-07 | 1,059.538053 |
| 2010-06 | 1,059.538025 |
| 2010-05 | 1,059.453015 |
| 2010-04 | 1,059.442982 |
| 2010-03 | 1,059.427954 |
| 2010-02 | 1,059.42295 |
| 2010-01 | 1,059.402915 |
| 2009-12 | 1,059.362898 |
| 2009-11 | 1,059.352863 |
| 2009-10 | 1,059.327823 |
| 2009-09 | 1,059.307728 |
| 2009-08 | 1,059.347776 |
| 2009-07 | 1,059.342762 |
| 2009-06 | 1,059.307743 |
| 2009-05 | 1,059.277721 |
| 2009-04 | 1,059.257708 |
| 2009-03 | 1,059.247648 |
| 2009-02 | 1,059.177623 |
| 2009-01 | 1,059.147601 |
| 2008-12 | 1,059.147589 |
| 2008-11 | 1,059.137576 |
| 2008-10 | 1,059.122571 |
| 2008-09 | 1,059.352568 |
| 2008-08 | 1,059.367606 |
| 2008-07 | 1,059.367581 |
| 2008-06 | 1,059.352552 |
| 2008-05 | 1,059.042445 |
| 2008-04 | 1,059.042392 |
| 2008-03 | 1,059.242316 |
| 2008-02 | 1,059.227109 |
| 2008-01 | 1,059.122092 |
| 2007-12 | 1,059.102028 |
| 2007-11 | 1,059.102077 |
| 2007-10 | 1,059.062066 |
| 2007-09 | 1,059.047057 |
| 2007-08 | 1,059.036965 |
| 2007-07 | 1,059.011964 |
| 2007-06 | 1,058.991986 |
| 2007-05 | 1,058.991886 |
| 2007-04 | 1,058.161996 |
| 2007-03 | 1,058.306863 |
| 2007-02 | 1,058.321816 |
| 2007-01 | 1,058.316811 |
| 2006-12 | 1,058.26681 |
| 2006-11 | 1,058.246804 |
| 2006-10 | 1,058.186804 |
| 2006-09 | 1,057.981819 |
| 2006-08 | 1,057.971808 |
| 2006-07 | 1,057.971792 |
| 2006-06 | 1,057.931778 |
| 2006-05 | 1,057.926474 |
| 2006-04 | 1,057.926458 |
| 2006-03 | 1,057.926441 |
| 2006-02 | 1,057.941344 |
| 2006-01 | 1,057.941322 |
| 2005-12 | 1,057.921319 |
| 2005-11 | 1,057.920313 |
| 2005-10 | 1,057.900293 |
| 2005-09 | 1,057.900235 |
| 2005-08 | 1,057.700219 |
| 2005-07 | 1,057.600271 |
| 2005-06 | 1,057.60018 |
| 2005-05 | 1,057.215177 |
| 2005-04 | 1,057.17516 |
| 2005-03 | 1,057.085157 |
| 2005-02 | 1,057.065131 |
| 2005-01 | 1,057.065071 |
| 2004-12 | 1,056.865111 |
| 2004-11 | 1,056.865105 |
| 2004-10 | 1,056.815103 |
| 2004-09 | 1,056.715009 |
| 2004-08 | 1,056.515047 |
| 2004-07 | 1,056.115042 |
| 2004-06 | 1,055.914907 |
| 2004-05 | 1,055.714893 |
| 2004-04 | 1,055.314878 |
| 2004-03 | 1,055.214853 |
| 2004-02 | 1,055.034852 |
| 2004-01 | 1,054.53476 |
| 2003-12 | 1,053.949745 |
| 2003-11 | 1,053.708169 |
| 2003-10 | 1,053.568076 |
| 2003-09 | 1,053.343135 |
| 2003-08 | 1,053.343067 |
| 2003-07 | 1,053.263065 |
| 2003-06 | 1,052.898042 |
| 2003-05 | 1,052.842987 |
| 2003-04 | 1,050.822883 |
| 2003-03 | 1,050.632685 |
| 2003-02 | 1,050.572572 |
| 2003-01 | 1,050.542544 |
| 2002-12 | 1,050.322681 |
| 2002-11 | 1,050.012657 |
| 2002-10 | 1,049.612643 |
| 2002-09 | 1,049.272458 |
| 2002-08 | 1,048.832281 |
| 2002-07 | 1,048.732206 |
| 2002-06 | 1,048.562048 |
| 2002-05 | 1,048.356642 |
| 2002-04 | 1,048.336598 |
| 2002-03 | 1,046.996616 |
| 2002-02 | 1,044.486595 |
| 2002-01 | 1,044.441547 |
| 2001-12 | 1,043.196544 |
| 2001-11 | 1,041.526535 |
| 2001-10 | 1,040.681535 |
| 2001-09 | 1,040.324025 |
| 2001-08 | 1,039.631711 |
| 2001-07 | 1,037.574761 |
| 2001-06 | 1,034.539724 |
| 2001-05 | 1,033.2947 |
| 2001-04 | 1,032.92468 |
| 2001-03 | 1,030.279617 |
| 2001-02 | 1,029.999609 |
| 2001-01 | 1,027.584583 |
| 2000-12 | 1,025.03956 |
| 2000-11 | 1,022.794476 |
| 2000-10 | 1,020.109503 |
| 2000-09 | 1,018.919402 |
| 2000-08 | 1,017.664368 |
| 2000-07 | 1,016.229336 |
| 2000-06 | 1,015.014308 |
| 2000-05 | 1,013.019193 |
| 2000-04 | 1,009.809008 |
| 2000-03 | 1,005.658961 |
| 2000-02 | 1,001.598881 |
| 2000-01 | 1,000.203861 |
| 1999-12 | 999.183855 |
| 1999-11 | 994.938842 |
| 1999-10 | 991.558852 |
| 1999-09 | 986.448764 |
| 1999-08 | 985.113734 |
| 1999-07 | 982.179247 |
| 1999-06 | 980.834188 |
| 1999-05 | 977.27422 |
| 1999-04 | 974.118989 |
| 1999-03 | 973.058887 |
| 1999-02 | 968.708852 |
| 1999-01 | 968.053842 |
Sources: Banco de México ↗ · Banco de México SIE ↗
Observed period: August 2026. Retrieved 14 September 2026. Figures may be revised.
DESIGNS & GENERATIONS
The denomination register
Compare design identities and material eras. Start dates are documented circulation milestones; no complete annual minting range is implied.
Family B · 5 centavos
Quincunces · solar rays
- Family
- B
- Circulation starts
- 1993-01
- Official status
- Other valid design
- Inscription
- Cent sign; principal design continues across B/C.
- Material eras
- 1993-01 · Stainless steel
Sources: Banco de México ↗ · Banco de México ↗ · Banco de México / DOF ↗ · Banco de México / DOF ↗
Family C · 5 centavos
Quincunces · solar rays
- Family
- C
- Circulation starts
- 1996-01-01
- Official status
- Current catalogue
- Inscription
- Cent sign; principal design continues across B/C.
- Material eras
- 1996-01-01 · Stainless steel
Sources: Banco de México ↗ · Banco de México ↗ · Banco de México / DOF ↗ · Banco de México / DOF ↗
Sources & image credits
Banco de México specifications and original legal records. Research checked through 13 September 2026; release and authorization are distinguished.
Open the source list
- Banco de México · Other valid designs
- Banco de México · Currently manufactured coins
- Banco de México · 1 peso C
- Banco de México · 5 centavos C
- Banco de México · 10 centavos D
- Banco de México · 20 centavos D
- Banco de México · Valid B centavos
- Banco de México / DOF · 1992 technical coin decree
- Banco de México / DOF · Circular 2024/95, 27 December 1995
Hero setting: an archival interior, material-study space or architectural landscape artwork. The setting is not a documentary record; the separately shown coin photographs provide the design evidence.
Coin photographs · montana2011 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Photographs retain their original coin detail and finish. Exterior background masks are for layout only. The opening detail is an enlarged crop; complete faces appear above and in the design section. Images are enlarged, not actual size; paired faces are design references, not a same-specimen claim.