Chile 1855-So 50 centavos

Heritage sale 3010, part of lot 22391

from the Mountain Groan Collection

The first specimen was part of lot 22391 in Heritage sale 3010 (Boston, August 2010), which sold for $322. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Republic Lot of Five Scarce Minors, ...50 Centavos 1855 & 1856...--both VF. The last three coins show evidence of being cleaned." This fifty centavo piece was minted in Santiago, Chile, in 1853-62. An upright condor was adopted for 1862-67 (KM 134) with a lower relief used for 1867-72 (KM 139). This condor with outspread wings also appeared on half decimos and decimos and twenty centavos coins of the 1850's. The low relief contributed to a rather drab design which wore down rapidly in circulation.

Recorded mintage: 1,354,000 (most common date).

Specification: 12.5 g, 0.900 fine silver, 30 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM 128.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[1]Tucker, Warren, Scott Cordry and John Kraljevich, Heritage Sale 3010: World Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2010.

Link to:

• 1854 50 centavos
• 1855 decimo
• 1855 20 centavos
• 1856 ½ décimo
• 1856 50 centavos
• 1855 peso
• 1855 10 pesos
• Coins and currency dated 1855
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