1960 Mexican 1 Peso

The 1960 Mexican 1 Peso was one of the last coins struck in .720 fine silver before the country's shift to base metals in the early 1970s.

That silver content meant it carried about 7.2 grams of the real stuff per coin. Minted at the Mexico City facility, it featured the standard eagle perched on a cactus, devouring a serpent—a design rooted in the national seal since 1821. While exact mintage figures are murky, estimates suggest millions were produced for everyday use during a period of relative economic calm.

Production involved recycled planchets from earlier issues, a practical nod to wartime shortages in the previous decade. If you're hunting for one, check the edge for the reeded design; it's often overlooked but tells you it's genuine. And yes, some folks still melt these for the silver, which is about as romantic as it gets in numismatics.

We don't know much about the designers' intentions beyond the basics, as records from that era are spotty.