MPCC IV: D (Category Winner!)

Mexico 20 Centavos 1955 Type 2 National Emblem

No disrespect intended, but I should've entered if this won

Again, no disrespect intended, but I can't believe how a 5dollar coin beat a 1000 dollar coin.

It's not really a question of relative value. It's about how visually pleasing it is as far as design and luster. While I personally preferred my own entry, I do think the coin is quite nice.

Yes agreed.  I did say when the call went for entries that the coins that would succeed were those with the best design and in the best condition.  Remember it's the most POPULAR coin competition, not most EXPENSIVE coin competition.  One example is the Pacific category last year.  One round saw an Australian sovereign worth a few hundred dollars up against a plain Australian florin worth around $8.  The florin was a nice design and in good condition, the sovereign was scuffed up, the florin won

Yeah, but the scans don't really show you the condition that well. I have only once in my life held a coin like the 10 dollar gold coin in my hand, and it was phenomenal. Now compare that to holding a 20 centavo coin...

This is a contest showing quality coins, which bear nice designs. I don´t want to be bad, but, yes, golden coin can be RRRRR but if it is like piece of...erm...gold without any design or... ok... not such impressive design, than a 20 centavos coin can beat it there. ;)

There are many coins very cheap but with probably the nicest design depicted.

I have to say that I think I voted for this coin every time it came up.
I love the design of the eagle and I think the colour/tone of the coin is beautiful.

There's no denying that the gold coin is also an amazing coin. But I think that the problem with gold coins (for me anyway) is that they don't tarnish or tone etc., so they never appear to age, and I often feel that for coins, with age comes character, and with that character comes beauty.

Put it this way.  If the Mexican coin was made of gold and the other one was made of bronze which one would you have voted for?  You're voting on the coin's eye appeal, not its rarity.

Both coins have an eagle, the USA one has the eagle standing tamely looking off into space, the Mexican coin has it standing on a plant ripping a snake to pieces.  The USA coin has a very European looking Indian on the obverse whereas the Mexican coin has a beautiful scene of a liberty cap beaming down rays of light on a beautiful landscape scene.

Just because a coin is common, does not mean it's not beautifully designed.  and that's what makes it popular.  If I had a spare $1000 I sure wouldn't buy the gold coin, I'd buy a whole lot of coins that I like the design of.  In my mind this is one of the most beautiful coins, and it's worth hardly anything at all