What Are Some Cool World Silver To Look Out For?

Short answer: tons of them. Check your local coin shop with a junk silver basket and you'll be good. My theory is that the further a coin is from home, the cheaper it gets. So far I haven't been proven wrong.

Longer answer: I suggest that you try to figure out what part of the world you like best and do a little research on what's available. The world is huge and America is small. I do have type collections of a few countries, and most of them have had silver for circulation in the past.

If you look close to your home, then Canada issued silver for circulation until the 1960s. Mexico even went crazy and had silver circulation coins in the 1990s. I find that of Canada, most post-Victoria coins can be found at decent prices: sport or just over spot. For Mexico: my type set of Mexican pesos has been built exclusively at spot.

Now, for Europe, you should find tons of interesting coins at spot. Here are some samples:
Sweden just got through a reformation of their coinage. Technically all kroner coins from 1873 were still valid for circulation, and Sweden managed to stay neutral in both World Wars, meaning that a lot of old silver and gold got spared from destruction. Silver circulation coins were issued until the early 1970s. The last generation silver coins had only .400 silver, though. Commemorative coins are much harder to get hold of, is my experience.
Netherlands issued silver for circulation until halfway the 1960s. These were still circulating when the Euro came in 2002. A lot of old silver ended up in junk bins. I buy them by the dozen at spot. those coins are .720 silver.
Switzerland stopped issuing silver for circulation in the late 1960s, but you may technically still find these coins in circulation. Also Switzerland remained neutral in all big wars. As such, Swiss silver shouldn't be too difficult to get at spot.
Speaking of the Euro: a lot of commemorative German coins, especially 5 and 10 DM, got demonetized and ended in silver junk bins. Same goes for some larger French Franc and Austrian Schilling pieces.
Now, the UK issued silver for circulation until the end of World War II. I found a lot of these coins, often in AU or UNC condition, in silver junk bins. Especially post-Victoria coinage, sometimes of Vicky herself, if you're lucky. So look for Edward, George and George.
I also have quite a few non-circulation silver coins from former Warsaw-pact countries. They usually sell for spot or just over spot here, but I found that they're difficult to get hold of outside (East) Europe.

When looking at Asia, I think South Africa (including Namibia and Botswana) may be of interest. South Africa issued silver for circulation for a long time and those coins are still relatively easy to get. The rest of Africa can easily be forgotten, nothing to see there for cheap silver.

In Latin America, you may find some older Venezuela, Colombia and Panama coins in junk bins for not too much money. Often these pieces are large and beautiful. Also, Netherlands Antilles issued silver until not so long ago and thee coins usually go at spot, is my experience, and they're often in very good condition.

Asia... hm... Not so sure. I've traveled a lot of places, but I don't have many cheap Asian silver coins. You may find some Philippine silver (also from the US period) for a small premium, but a lot of coins have sea water damage. Most other Asian silver I have came with a significant premium.

Oceania should keep you entertained with both Australia and to lesser extent, New Zealand. I regularly encounter Aussie and Kiwi silver in junk bins. You should be good here.

So that's my global answer to a very global question. Let me know if you have any specific questions, I'd be happy to help.

EDIT: as you asked specifically for pre-1950 silver, I left out all the small states like Cook Islands, Gibraltar, Jersey, Kiribati, etc. which nowadays issue a lot of commemorative bullion coins.

Barring dollar/crown sized coins and coins of the British Empire, common, medium grade silver coins from the 1800s-1950s can often be had at about melt.

Some personal favorites of mine:

Japanese "double phoenix" 50 yen, 1920s-30s:
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces14253.html
You can buy a flashy, uncirculated common date for about $5-7.

Peruvian sol:
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces9096.html
A bit more spendy in high grades, but affordable with some wear.

France 2 franc "sower" design:
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces680.html
Nicer size in hand than the 1 franc, and not too expensive in ~VF. They wear attractively.

UK Gothic Florin:
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces4840.html
Expensive in high grades, but very affordable in lower grades.

India, princely state of Indore Rupee:
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces36673.html
You can find a nice example for under $25, under $20 with patient bidding. Fun coins a bit bigger and about the thickness of a UK pound coin.

Also, there are plenty of fun and cheap silver coins before the mid 1800s.

This is one I've got for sale for $22, already sold the lower grades for under $10. Called a "bull and horseman" jital, it's about the size of a dime, over a thousand years old, and hails from Afghanistan when that was part of "India".




I also was able to nab this XF Abbasid dirham (about 750 AD) for about $30




Old doesn't mean expensive

These may be more on the expensive side since they are bigger, but I definitely fell in love with some of the designs of world crown sized coins. Also, anything German States is cool in my opinion.

http://goccf.com/t/268961&SearchTerms=World,Crown

I had this one sent to me by a CCF member during one of the past secret Santa exchanges - its a beauty!

Wow, I did not expect so much detailed information. I'm looking at some of these coins that were mentioned and I like them. I could easily reference back to this thread if I am at a show or something to see what to look out for. It really does seem like world silver is interesting. I didn't realize you could get some of them so cheap.

If anyone else has pics of ones they like, I'd love to check them out.

You can also buy bulk world silver coins on ebay for basically spot. Only thing to be wary of there is that sometimes people include the 10% fine Mexican pesos and report the total weight of the lot, not the ASW. I've gotten plenty of solid deals this way, but of course the *really* good stuff is always sold individually.

Some things off the top of my head: Austria Coronas or Florins - latter 19th century to early 20th century; Australia silver threepence and upward - 20th cenury; German Empire Mark & 1/2 Mark; Third Reich German 2 & 5 Mark; Bolivia 50 Centavos - 1891 to 1900. Austria - 1920s schilling and 1/2 schilling. Russia silver kopeks - early 20th century.

One of my favorite coins in my collection is a 1907 Great Britain florin (KM-801). Beautiful Britannia design in front of the sea.

Other fun silver coins in my collection:
British colonial 3 pence/6 pence/shilling/florins from South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand
French 5 franc Hercule as posted by thg above (there's also a 10 franc from the late 1800s that's nice)
British Trade dollar

I agree with a lot of the coins posted above too. There are a few Greek commem 30 drachma from the 1930s/1940s or something that are gorgeous too. Start looking at large lots of foreign silver online and look for coins you like! I pay melt value for most foreign silver unless it's really nice.