MEXICO CITY, Mexico — Security officials said armed robbers broke into a Mexican government coin manufacturer Tuesday and filled a backpack with more than $2 million worth of gold coins from a vault that had been left open.
The daylight robbery was the latest high-profile crime to hit Mexico City, where crime has increased with record lawlessness plaguing the country.
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Police said two people, one wielding a firearm, broke into a Casa de Moneda branch Tuesday morning after throwing a security guard to the ground and taking his gun.
They added that one of the robbers then went to the vault, which was open, and filled a backpack with 1,567 gold coins.
According to a Mexican bank, the coins, known as centenarios, have a face value of 50 pesos, but trade for 31,500 pesos, or $1,600 apiece. That makes the total value of the haul at least $2.5 million.
The coin was first minted in 1921 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Mexico's independence from Spain, according to the central bank.
Production was suspended in 1931, but the coin was reminted beginning in 1943 due to demand for gold coins.