1946 Mexico 1 Centavo

In 1946, Mexico's 1 Centavo coin switched to zinc because copper supplies had dried up after the war, marking a pragmatic shift in everyday currency.

That zinc planchet wasn't just a cheap fix; it came from whatever scrap was available, reflecting the era's resourcefulness amid global shortages. The obverse featured a simple eagle design, standard for the time, while the reverse bore the denomination and date.

Mintage figures for this year are murky; records from the Mexican mint during the postwar period aren't always reliable. As for condition, these coins often show wear from heavy circulation, given their low value.

Zinc coins like this one don't fetch much on the market, but they've got a certain understated endurance.