Common trigonometric values like \( \cos 30^\circ = 0.866 \), \( \cos 45^\circ = 0.707 \), \( \cos 60^\circ = 0.5 \), help in estimating values between angles without a calculator.
To find the approximate value of \( \cos 59^\circ \),
\[
\cos 60^\circ = 0.5,\quad \cos 58^\circ \approx 0.53,\quad \cos 59^\circ \approx 0.515 \text{ to } 0.515
\]
\[
\cos 59^\circ \approx 0.515
\]
Among the given options, the closest value to 0.515 is:
\[
\boxed{0.61}
\]