1960 50 Centavos Mexico

The 1960 50 Centavos from Mexico was one of the first coins in the series to slash its silver content to just 10%, a pragmatic response to dwindling reserves and economic pressures following World War II.

This meant it was struck from a .720 fine silver alloy in earlier years, but by 1960, that dropped sharply to economize production. The obverse shows the Mexican coat of arms, while the reverse depicts a Phrygian cap flanked by olive branches—a design unchanged since 1910. Mintage figures are murky; official records from that era are incomplete, so exact numbers remain uncertain.

As for variations, some pieces show weak strikes due to worn dies, which can frustrate even seasoned handlers.

The reduced silver content didn't make it worthless, just less burdensome in your pocket.