Chile 1850-So LA 2 reales
This specimen was lot 996 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 39 (Winter Park, FL, May 2026), where it sold for $2,040. The catalog description[1] noted, "CHILE, Santiago, 2 reales, 1850/9 LA, rare, NGC AU 55 (Colección Val y Mexía Label), finest known in NGC census, ex-Whittier. Very light rainbow toning over muted luster, die variety with split-foot Y, also with clear 5/9 overdate (not mentioned on label) but no evidence of 5/4 or LA/ML as listed in KM (therefore must be rare), currently the finer of just two in the NGC census for this date (without overdate specified). Pedigreed to the Whittier Collection (stated on label) and to the Val y Mexía Collection." This type was struck 1843-52. The design, with a condor tearing the chains of slavery, is also found on half real, 1 real and 8 reales coins of the period. This design is very popular with collectors and brings quite a bit more than the rather low catalog values. The date is also known in a large shield variety (KM 100.1). An overdate 1850/49 is recorded for the year but not the 1850/9 shown here. This example realized five times the catalog value.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 5.7 g, 0.902 fine silver, 23-23.5 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-100.2 (unlisted overdate).
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing, Connor Falk and Sarah Sproles, Auction 39, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, featuring the Jorge Ugaz Collection of Lima Silver Cob 2 Reales and the Darby Collection of Guatemala Silver Cobs, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2026.
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