1961 Mexican 1 Peso

In 1961, Mexico's 1 Peso coin was struck in .720 fine silver, marking one of the last years for that alloy before the country switched to clad compositions. This made it a practical choice for everyday transactions in an era of rising inflation.

The obverse features the Mexican coat of arms: an eagle perched on a cactus, devouring a snake. That's the classic design rooted in Aztec legend, though the reverse is simpler, showing the denomination and date. I handled my first one back in the '70s; the edges are reeded to deter clipping, a holdover from older minting practices.

Mintage figures for this coin are spotty—official records from the Mexico City Mint aren't always precise. As for variations, some pieces show minor die differences, but nothing revolutionary.

The eagle on this coin always looks a bit fierce, as if it's guarding against the counterfeiters I used to chase in my early days.