My impressions visiting Mexico as a child, so you can think of the reverse: the sizing made more sense (smaller to larger based on denomination); coins ranged from silvery to bronze, but the metal looked more muted rather than shiny; they generally felt heavier than American coins, especially the 50 centavos and 1 peso coin; some coins had lettering on the edge, which was cool; they all had the same back, the eagle with the snake from the flag (like the Mexican version of what we have/had on quarters).
Rats. I used to have a big bottle full with old coins before moving out. But most of old coins were bigger than dollars. As green_grrl said, we used to have a size = denomination thing. The smaller ones where the cents, the bigger ones the 20 peso. As a Mexican, I did exactly what your character did on my first time to the states. I don't know if this would help, but what really confused me was the names of american coins: I didn't understand the idea of dimes and quarters being written on the coins and that was for me, quite absurd. And yes, the fact tht the dime is the smallest one, to this day baffles me.
Oh, also, bills. Our bills are different colors, not green. That would also give him pause.
Another question, how old is your character? Has nothing to do with your question, but 1968 was pretty horrifying for teens and young adults in Mexico City, due to the Tlatelolco massacre, so I don't know if that bit of trivia helps.
Thank you very much! LJ is now letting me reply to comments, which it wasn't doing last night. Those are some great observations. Anything which would strike my character as confusing or annoying will be very useful.
I mentioned it below in a post reply when comments weren't working for me, but yes, my character leaves Mexico for reasons directly related to the 1968 massacre. He misses his home very much, but isn't able to return for seven years.
I'm still looking for my old cold collection. I remember that the biggest ones I ever saw were the 'gold' $1000 peso coin. I loved using them to draw circles in elementary school. OH! The $5 peso coin weren't really circular. They looked more like a pentagon. I remember that one clearly, I'll ask my co-workers -who are older than me- if they have old coins around.
If you need any info about how was life right after the massacre, I could help. My father escaped narrowly (Thank goodness for his alcoholism. He was going to the meeting in Tlatelolco, but he was going early, so he decided to make a pitstop at a bar... HE came out of the bar the next day, to see the news), and my grandma sent my mom to Europe to keep her out of the movement. So I have some second hand stories to tell.
Thank you! I appreciate your help very much. How cute, a coin big enough to use for drawing circles! There used to be large dollar coins in the US, but I hardly ever saw them. They were so big and heavy that carrying just a few would practically tear the pocket out of your pants.
Yes, I would absolutely love to hear any stories you have about Tlatelolco. That sounds fascinating! Personal details are usually far more inspiring than history books.
Here is a good site listing mexican coins: http://www.monedasdelmundo.org/catalogo/Mexico/283001.html I have no idea what would be a difference between mexican and US coins but as far as mexican goes I can tell you on the 60s copper cents were pretty common, they stopped being in circulation around the 80s because people would melt them since they were made of real copper. The sizes got smaller the smaller the denomination of the coin went. There were coins of 100 pesos and up to 1000 but they were pretty rare.
Thanks! Yes, American currency is illogical with its coin sizes and doesn't seem to consider anything like sight impairments, poor lighting conditions and so forth. I remember when they brought out a dollar coin which was virtually the same size and color as a quarter. It was as if the designers had never tried to fish a coin out of a pocket by touch.
Not from Mexico, but the dime being smaller than the nickel is a source of frustration for me every time I visit the States. So yeah, that's a good detail to put in.
And to elaborate on what luxshine said about different colors of bills vs. US green ones, in a country with different colored bills you can just glance at the edge of a bill in your wallet and you can tell what denomination it is, rather than having to check the number written on it, so he might be a little frustrated that he can't do that.
LJ is not letting me reply to comments, so I am going to have to try commenting on the post itself.
Thanks for your help! I'm getting some great details and checking out the recommended sites. I may try dropping by a coin shop in the neighborhood as well (though I doubt I can afford to start a collection!)
About the 1968 massacre: Yes, my teenage character has left Mexico with his whole family for reasons directly related to the political situation. His elder brother is a student activist who was wounded at Tlatelolco, but managed to escape. Their father immediately took everyone to the US, and my character isn't able to get back home again until he's a young man in 1976.
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My impressions visiting Mexico as a child, so you can think of the reverse: the sizing made more sense (smaller to larger based on denomination); coins ranged from silvery to bronze, but the metal looked more muted rather than shiny; they generally felt heavier than American coins, especially the 50 centavos and 1 peso coin; some coins had lettering on the edge, which was cool; they all had the same back, the eagle with the snake from the flag (like the Mexican version of what we have/had on quarters).
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As a Mexican, I did exactly what your character did on my first time to the states. I don't know if this would help, but what really confused me was the names of american coins: I didn't understand the idea of dimes and quarters being written on the coins and that was for me, quite absurd. And yes, the fact tht the dime is the smallest one, to this day baffles me.
Oh, also, bills. Our bills are different colors, not green. That would also give him pause.
Another question, how old is your character? Has nothing to do with your question, but 1968 was pretty horrifying for teens and young adults in Mexico City, due to the Tlatelolco massacre, so I don't know if that bit of trivia helps.
Reply
I mentioned it below in a post reply when comments weren't working for me, but yes, my character leaves Mexico for reasons directly related to the 1968 massacre. He misses his home very much, but isn't able to return for seven years.
Reply
If you need any info about how was life right after the massacre, I could help. My father escaped narrowly (Thank goodness for his alcoholism. He was going to the meeting in Tlatelolco, but he was going early, so he decided to make a pitstop at a bar... HE came out of the bar the next day, to see the news), and my grandma sent my mom to Europe to keep her out of the movement. So I have some second hand stories to tell.
Reply
Yes, I would absolutely love to hear any stories you have about Tlatelolco. That sounds fascinating! Personal details are usually far more inspiring than history books.
Reply
I have no idea what would be a difference between mexican and US coins but as far as mexican goes I can tell you on the 60s copper cents were pretty common, they stopped being in circulation around the 80s because people would melt them since they were made of real copper. The sizes got smaller the smaller the denomination of the coin went. There were coins of 100 pesos and up to 1000 but they were pretty rare.
Reply
Reply
And to elaborate on what luxshine said about different colors of bills vs. US green ones, in a country with different colored bills you can just glance at the edge of a bill in your wallet and you can tell what denomination it is, rather than having to check the number written on it, so he might be a little frustrated that he can't do that.
Reply
Reply
Thanks for your help! I'm getting some great details and checking out the recommended sites. I may try dropping by a coin shop in the neighborhood as well (though I doubt I can afford to start a collection!)
About the 1968 massacre: Yes, my teenage character has left Mexico with his whole family for reasons directly related to the political situation. His elder brother is a student activist who was wounded at Tlatelolco, but managed to escape. Their father immediately took everyone to the US, and my character isn't able to get back home again until he's a young man in 1976.
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