Austrian 2 Schilling 1959

The 1959 Austrian 2 Schilling was one of the first coins in the country made entirely from aluminum, a postwar innovation that cut production costs and lightened pockets for everyday use.

This coin, with its simple design of the federal eagle on one side and the value on the other, circulated widely until the euro arrived in 2001. Struck at the Vienna mint, it represented Austria's return to stable currency after years of upheaval. I can't say exactly how many were produced that year; records from the era are spotty, as is often the case with routine issues.

Aluminum might sound mundane, but it kept these coins from tarnishing quickly in circulation. No wonder they lasted.

If you're hunting for rarities, this isn't one—most turn up in junk boxes at coin shows.