500 Pesos

Chile's 500 peso coin entered circulation in 2000 as the highest-denomination circulating coin in the country's decimal system, a response to inflation that had steadily eroded the purchasing power of smaller denominations over the preceding decades. The bimetallic format was adopted partly as an anti-counterfeiting measure — at face value, producing a convincing fake cost nearly as much as the coin itself.

One persistent nuisance with this series: the aluminum-bronze core is prone to a galvanic reaction at the join with the outer ring in humid conditions, producing a dark oxidation line that collectors sometimes mistake for artificial toning.