1960 Colombia 10 Pesos

This 1960 10 Pesos coin from Colombia was struck as a silver proof to mark the 150th anniversary of the country's independence from Spain.

Weighing in at 26.8 grams of .900 fine silver, it features a portrait of Simón Bolívar on the obverse and the national coat of arms on the reverse. The proof finish gives it a mirror-like surface, a detail that always surprises newcomers who expect every old coin to be worn smooth. Mintage figures are murky; official records from that era in Colombia's mint are incomplete, so I won't guess.

Edge reeding is standard, nothing fancy, but it helped deter counterfeits in circulation. Over the years, I've handled a few of these, and they're often mistaken for regular issues. People think they're rare as hen's teeth, but that's just talk.

As for why it's commemorative, the design nods to the independence wars without getting dramatic. It's a solid piece, if unadorned.