Chile 1865 1/2 decimo
The first specimen was lot 1373 in Classical Numismatic Group's sale of the Lissner Collection (Chicago, August 2014), where it sold for $332.75. The catalog description[1] noted, "CHILE, Republic. 1818-present. AR 1/2 Decimo. Santiago mint. Dated 1865 So. In NGC encapsulation graded MS 63. Deeply toned choice UNC. Extremely rare two year type and only two graded higher. Purchased from Lou Collins, June 1972." This silver five centavos piece was minted in Santiago, Chile, in 1865-66. A later type using the same design but a slightly redesigned condor was issued 1867-81. It featured the same upright condor design also used on the decimo, twenty centavos and fifty centavos and peso. The half decimo contained .036 troy oz of silver in 1851-59; by 1865 this had been reduced to .033 troy oz. The decline did not stop with this type; the coin shrank until it was converted to copper-nickel in 1920. The high relief on the condor struck up poorly and most specimens appear in Fine or lower.
Recorded mintage: 40,000.
Specification: 1.15 g, 0.900 fine silver, .033 troy oz ASW, this specimen Ø15 mm, 1.11 g, 6h axis.
Catalog reference: KM 137.1; Y 14.
- 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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