Franco 5 Pesetas

The 5 Pesetas coin from Franco's Spain was minted in aluminum, a frugal choice born of post-war scrapes that saw the country recycle whatever metal scraps it could find.

This meant ditching traditional copper alloys for something lighter and cheaper, starting in 1947. The design was straightforward: one side bore the Spanish coat of arms, the other Franco's profile, with variations in the edge inscriptions over the years. Production ran until 1957, but mintage numbers for certain issues remain unclear; archives from that era weren't exactly meticulous.

One version had a reeded edge, another smooth—small tweaks that numismatists debate endlessly. As for rumors that these coins were made from melted enemy bullets, I've yet to see evidence; it's probably just wishful thinking from overeager collectors.