You may have heard the term junk silver, which is typically used for standard circulation U.S. coins minted prior to 1965. The reason they are called "junk" is because they contain no collectible or numismatic value. However, they are far from that, as their value is much higher than their face value as they are made of 90% silver.
Now, with that in mind, check out this coin I recently bought (mostly for the giggles) that is literally junk silver:
Cool as the design may be, this mexican peso coin is just 0.100 silver, lmao 🤣. No idea what was the thinking behind such a small purity. Although these coins are quite chunky at 16 g, that translates to just 1.6 g of silver XD
At least the really cool eagle eating a snake on the back makes up for the shitty composition.
As for the pirate-like dude on the front, he is Jose Morelos a national hero for Mexico credited with organizing and bolstering the War of Independence. Not a bad job considering he was just a priest!
JosĂ© MarĂa Teclo Morelos PĂ©rez y PavĂłn (30 September 1765 – 22 December 1815) was a Mexican Catholic priest, statesman and military leader who led the Mexican War of Independence movement, assuming its leadership after the execution of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in 1811. source and more info
In case you wonder , the coin reads
ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS
UN PESO 1961
For
United Mexican States
One Peso 1961
The edge is also engraved with
INDEPENDENCIA Y LIBERTAD
For
Independence and Liberty
This is a slogan closely associated with Mexico's struggle for independence from Spain, which began on September 16, 1810, and ended in 1821.
And that's pretty much about today's coin!
Btw, this is my first Mexican silver coin but soon I will have more from the country.... With a much better purity 🤣
