The Forgotten Cent
A new book by numismatist and author, Pablo Luna Herrera, highlights Mexico’s first coinage.
In his new book, In the Midst of Chaos and Discord. The Genesis of the First Mexican Cent of 1841, numismatist and author Pablo Luna Herrera explores the history of the forgotten 1841 Mexican cent. Through new research and information that had yet to be published, the author unwraps the coin’s history and significance to Mexican currency today.
Below, Luna Herrera discusses his book with World Coin News.
What is the book about?
Luna Herrera (LH): In the Midst of Chaos and Discord. The Genesis of the First Mexican Cent of 1841, published in 2025, is an investigation that focuses on a single coin: the mythical and intriguing cent of 1841. Mexico utilized the Spanish currency system, which used reales and escudos, and maintained the division of all values by eight until the 1860s. The first successful circulating coin in the decimal system was introduced in 1863; however, a very early cent was issued in 1841, more than twenty years before the monetary reforms.
The text commences by delineating the financial, political, social, and numismatic life of 1841, a nascent nation grappling with numerous challenges. Subsequently, it amalgamates the extant information from other authors to formulate a preliminary study of the hypotheses that elucidate this specimen.
Ultimately, it discloses a novel investigation derived from documents of that era, which have been virtually forgotten for nearly two centuries. Thus, it furnishes the reader with novel material to facilitate comprehension of this remarkable coin.
Who is the audience for this book?
LH: This book can be of particular interest to collectors and numismatists. It is a comprehensive resource that encompasses a wide range of topics related to numismatics, including reales and escudos coins, copper state coins, and decimal currency, making it a valuable source for scholars and enthusiasts alike.
Where can you purchase the book?
LH: The book, available in Spanish and English, is available in softcover and hardcover. Its dimensions are equivalent to half of a letter-sized sheet, and only 200 were printed. In Mexico, the official distributor is Briggs & Bustos (bbauctions.com.mx), and in the United States, World Numismatics.
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
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