Japan 100 Yen

This 100 Yen coin, despite its silvery sheen, is made from a copper-nickel alloy that fooled more than a few people into thinking it was actual silver.

That alloy composition helped it withstand the wear of everyday use in Japan's bustling economy. Struck at the Osaka Mint, the coin features a phoenix on the obverse and the chrysanthemum crest on the reverse, symbols that nod to Japan's imperial history without much fanfare. Production ran from 1959 to 1985, with variations in edge reeding that numismatists sometimes debate.

Exact mintage figures for certain years are murky; records from the 1960s got lost in some bureaucratic shuffle. Still, millions entered circulation, making this coin a staple in pockets across the country.

Some call it the workhorse of modern Japanese currency.