1 Nuevo Sol

The Nuevo Sol's bimetallic construction—brass center ringed by nickel—made it one of the first Peruvian coins designed specifically to thwart counterfeiters in the early 1990s.

That innovation came after Peru's economy had collapsed under hyperinflation, with the Inti currency rendered nearly worthless. The Central Bank introduced the Nuevo Sol in 1991, pegging it to the US dollar for stability. Most denominations featured indigenous motifs, like the Inca sun on the 1 sol coin, reflecting Peru's pre-Columbian heritage without the usual romanticism.

Mintage figures vary by year; some records are spotty due to administrative changes. For instance, the 1991 issues were produced in Lima, but exact numbers for later years remain unclear. I handled plenty of these in the '90s—sturdy, everyday pieces that saw heavy circulation.

Bimetallic coins like this one sometimes separate if mishandled, which is more than I can say for some currencies.