Salinas 10 Pesos

This bimetallic 10 Pesos coin, introduced during Mexico's economic overhaul under President Salinas, features a brass center ringed by aluminum-bronze, a design meant to deter counterfeiting amid rampant inflation.

That setup wasn't just for show; it reflected the era's financial turbulence, with the coin entering circulation from 1988 to help stabilize the peso after years of devaluation. Mintage figures vary by year, but records from the Casa de Moneda in Mexico City suggest production peaked in 1992, though exact numbers for earlier years remain unclear due to archival gaps.

The obverse bears Salinas's portrait, a nod to his administration's reforms, while the reverse shows the national coat of arms. Handling these, I've noticed the brass often tarnishes unevenly, a minor flaw that collectors overlook.

Not every bimetallic coin tells a story of national rebirth; some just jingle in your pocket.