1945 Mexico 10 Centavos

In 1945, Mexico's 10 Centavos coin was one of the first to use zinc planchets salvaged from wartime scrap, a practical shift driven by global metal shortages.

That zinc composition made it lighter and more prone to wear than its pre-war counterparts, which were typically bronze or copper. The obverse featured a stylized eagle perched on a cactus, devouring a serpent, while the reverse simply noted the denomination and date. Production occurred at the Mexico City mint, though exact figures are murky—records from that era were spotty due to the chaos of the war.

Collectors sometimes mistake these for rare variants, but they're just everyday circulation pieces. If you handle one, notice the faint oxidation; it's a reminder of how economics shaped even small change. As for myths about hidden silver content, I've heard them all—zinc is zinc.

The coin's edge is reeded, a standard touch that didn't change much. No one remembers the designer by name; it was a committee effort, as usual.