Chile 1840-So IJ 1/2 real
This specimen was lot 1337 in Classical Numismatic Group's sale of the Lissner Collection (Chicago, August 2014), where it sold for $2,299. The catalog description[1] noted, "CHILE, Republic. 1818-present. AR 1/2 Real. Santiago mint. Dated 1840 So IJ. In NGC encapsulation graded MS 66. Gem fully prooflike specimen. Quality strike. A two year type. The only coin ever graded for the date. Superb quality. Ex Whittier Collection (Heritage 410, 2 June 2006), lot 16442." The specimen shown is one of a type minted in Santiago, Chile, 1838-51. This subtype is listed for 1838 and 1840. The design, with a condor tearing the chains of slavery, is also found on half, one and eight reales coins of the period. This design is very popular with collectors and brings quite a bit more than the rather low catalog values. Chile converted to decimal coinage in the 1850's.
Recorded mintage: 14,000.
Specification: 1.6 g, 0.902 fine, this specimen Ø17 mm, ~1.70 g, 6h axis.
Catalog reference: KM 98.1.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Teller, M. Louis, and Victor England, Jr., The Richard Lissner Collection, Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, 2014.
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