Who is on the money in Mexico?

$20: The independence movement; the Sian Ka'an biosphere. $50: The founding of Tenochtitlan; the axolotl. $100: Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz; the monarch butterfly forest. $200: Miguel Hidalgo and José María Morelos; the El Vizcaíno desert. $500: Benito Juárez; the grey whale. $1,000: Three figures of the Revolution; the jaguar and the Calakmul forest.

Are Mexico's banknotes polymer or paper?

Polymer. Polymer notes last two to three times as long as paper ones and survive a washing machine.

What is on the money in Mexico?

The money in Mexico

Mexican peso (MXN, $)

6 denominations in issue · Polymer

The series introduced from 2018 pairs a historical theme on the front with an ecosystem on the reverse, and the 50-peso note carrying an axolotl was named the best banknote design in the world by the International Bank Note Society in 2021. Mexico moved to polymer for its lower denominations early, in 2002, having watched Australia's experience.

Who and what is on each note

Note	Who or what is on it
$20	The independence movement; the Sian Ka'an biosphere
$50	The founding of Tenochtitlan; the axolotl
$100	Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz; the monarch butterfly forest
$200	Miguel Hidalgo and José María Morelos; the El Vizcaíno desert
$500	Benito Juárez; the grey whale
$1,000	Three figures of the Revolution; the jaguar and the Calakmul forest

The unusual part

The 50-peso axolotl note won the IBNS banknote of the year award for 2020, judged on design rather than security.

The practical facts

Currency: Mexican peso — ISO code MXN, symbol $
Printed on: Polymer
Survives a wash?: Yes. Polymer notes come out of a washing machine intact.
Can a blind person tell them apart?: Yes — the denominations differ in size, which is the simplest and most reliable tactile cue there is.
Highest note in issue: $1,000 — Three figures of the Revolution; the jaguar and the Calakmul forest

This page describes the notes rather than showing them. Reproducing a banknote image is restricted in most jurisdictions, and the restrictions differ between them.

Common questions

Who is on the money in Mexico?: $20: The independence movement; the Sian Ka'an biosphere. $50: The founding of Tenochtitlan; the axolotl. $100: Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz; the monarch butterfly forest. $200: Miguel Hidalgo and José María Morelos; the El Vizcaíno desert. $500: Benito Juárez; the grey whale. $1,000: Three figures of the Revolution; the jaguar and the Calakmul forest.
Are Mexico's banknotes polymer or paper?: Polymer. Polymer notes last two to three times as long as paper ones and survive a washing machine.

Mexico Capital, area, population and currency
The flag of Mexico Colours, symbols and lookalikes
The money in United States US dollar
The money in Eurozone Euro
The money in United Kingdom Pound sterling
The money in India Indian rupee
The money in Japan Japanese yen
The money in Zimbabwe Zimbabwean dollar
The money in Australia Australian dollar
The money in Canada Canadian dollar
The money in China Renminbi
The money in Switzerland Swiss franc

Sources

Official vendor product documentation — At One Place

How these figures are compiled and checked