1950 50 Centavos Mexico

The 1950 Mexican 50 Centavos was struck from nickel alloy, a shift prompted by global metal shortages after World War II. That made it more durable than its predecessors, which often wore down in the humid Mexican climate.

On the obverse, you'll find the eagle gripping a serpent on a cactus, a design rooted in the national coat of arms since 1821. The reverse simply states the denomination and date, with no frills. Edges are reeded to deter clipping, a precaution that proved effective in practice.

Mintage figures are murky; official records from that era weren't always reliable. I handled these coins regularly in the 1970s, and they turned up in change jars more often than not.

Some call it unremarkable, and they're not wrong.