100 Pesos First Empire Coin

This piece belongs to a long-running Mexican commemorative bimetallic series celebrating the nation's pre-Columbian and independence-era heritage, issued through Casa de Moneda de México — one of the oldest continuously operating mints in the Americas, founded by royal decree in 1535. The First Empire refers to Agustín de Iturbide's short-lived imperial government, which lasted from 1821 to 1823 before his forced abdication and eventual execution upon attempting to return from exile in 1824.

Iturbide's regime is a genuinely awkward chapter in Mexican national memory — celebrated for finalizing independence, condemned for the authoritarian turn that followed almost immediately.