1870 Mexico 5 Centavos

The 1870 5 Centavos was struck using copper that had likely been recycled from older coins, a cost-saving tactic common in Mexico's mints amid post-war shortages.

That practical reuse meant these coins often bore subtle imperfections, like uneven edges or faint strikes, from the melting process. The obverse showed a simple radiate sun, while the reverse featured the national coat of arms—nothing flashy, just functional currency for a nation piecing itself together.

Mintage figures for this year are murky; records from the Mexico City mint were spotty even then. We know it circulated widely during the lead-up to the Porfiriato, but exact numbers? Gone with the wind, or more likely, the archives.

Some call it underappreciated. I call it a survivor.