If you do a quick online search for "silver world trade unit" you will get a long list of various silver rounds with different designs. From around the 1960s to the 1980s, countless private mints made their own version of the "world trade unit." Some have become highly collectible and command a premium over spot, while most end up in the "generics bin" at your local coin store.
On my last trip to my local coin store, I was given one at random when I asked for silver rounds.
Obverse
Many have this same design on the obverse, depicting scales for measuring weight in trade. Not all do, but the large majority have some variation of this on it.
Reverse
The reverse side is where many mints explored their creativity. This one is less of a prime example, since it has a generic eagle on it.
Then you have really unique pieces, like this hexagon shape trade unit.
End of an Era
The mass minting of these started to slow down around the 1980s. It was around this time that the silver buffalos that are so prolific today started to be minted.
It's an iconic design, so many mints seemed to have shifted to this. A lot of it likely had to do with simplicity, which reduces manufacturing costs. A lot of mints also went out of business, making some of these highly collectible due to design and low mintage on some.
If you're looking to start a fun silver collection, these world trade units certainly have enough variety! They're not as cheap as bullion, since most command a $10-20 premium over spot, but they have a lot of eye appeal!
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