Trivia Question

[akak]

Which is the one remaining country in the world today that has a legal tender silver coin still in circulation?

[hiyosilver]

The silver eagle is a legal tender silver coin, but isn't the canadian mapleleaf also?

[theo68]

Originally Posted by akak

Which is the one remaining country in the world today that has a legal tender silver coin still in circulation?

Well; the Silver American Eagle, Silver Maple and the Austrian Philharmonic all have a value in legal tender. However these are not commonly circulated coins. It can also be argued that each country that once minted silver coins still has a few in circulation. But a few handfuls of silver U.S. dimes circulating among hundreds of millions of copper clad U.S. dimes (for example) probably won't qualify.

So you are saying that there is a country that either currently mints or very recently minted legal tender silver coins for general circulation? I would guess its one of the small oil-rich Gulf states, perhaps Dubai?

[akak]

Originally Posted by theo68

So you are saying that there is a country that either currently mints or very recently minted legal tender silver coins for general circulation? [/b]

Yes, exactly.

And no, it is not a Middle Eastern state. Nor is it one of the silver bullion "coins" such as the American Eagle, Canadian Maple Leaf or Silver Philharmonic. The coin in question has a face value (now marginally) greater than its silver content, and circulates along with other ordinary coinage ---although its mintages are not high, so there are not a huge number of them in circulation, relative to the non-silver coins of that country.

I have used several of these coins myself in the country in question, and found it a novel experience to be spending actual silver for a purchase. Of course, I saved most of them that I ran across.

[mountainmurph]

Originally Posted by akak

Yes, exactly.

And no, it is not a Middle Eastern state. Nor is it one of the silver bullion "coins" such as the American Eagle, Canadian Maple Leaf or Silver Philharmonic. The coin in question has a face value (now marginally) greater than its silver content, and circulates along with other ordinary coinage ---although its mintages are not high, so there are not a huge number of them in circulation, relative to the non-silver coins of that country.

I have used several of these coins myself in the country in question, and found it a novel experience to be spending actual silver for a purchase. Of course, I saved most of them that I ran across.

I believe that would be Mexico.

[akak]

Originally Posted by mountainmurph

I believe that would be Mexico.

And we have a winner!

Yes, it is the bimetallic 100 peso coin, with a bronze exterior ring surrounding a sterling silver center. They were minted in a series, a different design for each Mexican state, and now with other designs as well.

They are interesting coins, although I think it would have been better if they had just made the silver center the entire coin, and left off the bronze exterior ring, which adds nothing except extra bulk and weight.

[argentos]

Originally Posted by akak

.... left off the bronze exterior ring, which adds nothing except extra bulk and weight.

.... and durability. Silver coins used to wear out comparatively quickly in circulation.

[akak]

Originally Posted by argentos

.... and durability. Silver coins used to wear out comparatively quickly in circulation.

True, and I have wondered for years why the US and other countries did not simply use a silver-nickel alloy instead of 90% silver and 10% (almost equally soft) copper. Nickel would have vastly increased the durability of any silver coin, but I do not know of one country that ever tried using it with silver.

[Argyria]

Originally Posted by akak

They are interesting coins, although I think it would have been better if they had just made the silver center the entire coin, and left off the bronze exterior ring, which adds nothing except extra bulk and weight.

Perhaps another reason for this is to discourage people from melting them down.

[akak]

Originally Posted by Argyria

Perhaps another reason for this is to discourage people from melting them down.

I have it on good authority that by simply taking them to -20 or -30 F, the silver center can be popped out with a hammer, or even by throwing the coin hard against a brick wall or onto pavement --- but in the latter case, one would then have to chase down the center as it flew off in some random direction!