The 1959 Western film "The Wonderful Country" is based on the 1952 novel of the same title by Tom Lea. It is set in 1880's Mexico and Texas. Martin Brady (Robert Mitchum) was raised by two powerful Mexican brothers after he killed the man who killed his father. He works for the brothers making deliveries from Mexico over the border to El Paso, Texas. Early in the film he brings a load of Mexican Chihuahua pesos to El Paso to purchase goods. A man cuts open a bag and the coins spill out. The coins used in the film appear to be Ellis Merchantile Company motion picture dollar-size prop coins which have a large "$1.00" on them.

The novel had a more detailed explanation of the monetary situation in Mexico at that time, and told the story of the Chihuahua mint, silver eight reales or peso coins, and gold eight escudo coins or onzas.

Martin Brady is an American in 1880 who lives in Mexico and works for the wealthy Mexican Castro brothers. Marcos Castro is a general and Cipriano Castro is the governor.

Fourteen years earlier Martin fled El Paso Texas after killing the man who murdered his father, and the Castros adopted him and raised him to be a gunfighter. Gen. Marcos Castro sends Martin to El Paso with a load of Mexican pesos to buy rifles. In El Paso, Martin breaks his leg in a horse accident and stays in Texas to recover. A Texas Rangers captain tells Martin that he is no longer wanted for killing the man and offers him a job.

Martin is recovering from his accident and watches as a local man opens one of the bags that Martin has brought.

He pulls out a bunch of silver-dollar size coins.

The prop coins appear to be Ellis Merchantile dollar prop coins which have a prominent "$1.00" on them.
The Ellis Merchantile Company opened in Los Angeles in 1908 and manufactured imitation prop coins for the motion picture business until it closed in 2000.

Aluminum, 38 mm, 6.30 gm
Obverse: GOOD FOR / $1.00 / IN TRADE / ELLIS MERCHANTILE
Reverse: Bird of Paradise and man kneeling in temple surrounded by eight-pointed star, no text

Silver, 39.0 mm, 27.47 gm

The drawing is by Tom Lea who was an artist and an author.

Martin meets US Army Cavalry Major Colton and Mrs. Helen Colton, a beautiful woman who is bored with the life of an Army officer's wife.

Major Colton makes an arrangement with Martin and Governor Cipriano Castro to bring his American troops into Mexico to chase Apache Indians.

The bartender is played by Tom Lea, who wrote the novel.

Martin then joins Major and Mrs. Colton on their trip to Mexico. Martin visits General Marcos.

General Castro is unhappy that Martin didn't deliver the rifles and sends him to his brother, Governor Cipriano.

Governor Cipriano offers Martin silver pesos to eliminate his brother General Marcos but Martin refuses and leaves, followed by the Governor's men. Martin eludes the men and arrives at a small ranch, where he spends some time working. Apaches attack the ranch resulting in a gunfight and Martin leaves the ranch.

Martin encounters the American cavalry, commanded by Major Sutton, which is pursuing the Apaches. He encounters Sergeant Tobe Sutton who tells him about a battle with Indians.

The cavalry has lost many men in a battle with Indians and Major Colton is seriously wounded. Martin offers to guide the remaining troops back to the United States. They encounter some Indians and there is a fight over a wagon containing rifles. They arrive at Governor Cipriano's house and find the Governor dead and his brother General Marcos is now the Governor. The new Governor orders the Americans to leave Mexico and to turn Martin over to him. Martin takes off followed by one of the Governor's gunmen. The gunman finds Martin, shoots his horse, Martin then kills him, and also has to kill his horse. Martin lays down his guns and heads back to the US.

Martin leaves his horse and his guns on the ground, a vow of non-violence?

Robert Mitchum as Martin Brady
Julie London as Helen Colton
Gary Merrill as Maj. Stark Colton
Leroy 'Satchel' Paige as Sgt. Tobe Sutton
Pedro Armendáriz as Cipriano Castro
Víctor Manuel Mendoza as Gen. Marcos Castro
Director: Robert Parrish
Writers: Robert Ardrey, Tom Lea (novel)