Chile 1870-So 20 centavos
This specimen was lot 73158 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2023), where it sold for $504. The catalog description[1] noted, "CHILE. 20 Centavos, 1870/60-So. Santiago Mint. PCGS MS-62. A seldom-seen overdate, this piece is by far the finest out of just three example certified by either PCGS or NGC. The surfaces exhibit deep cabinet toning with some lovely underlying luster. A sharply detailed and wholesome piece that should excite collectors of the popular Chilean series." This twenty centavo piece was minted in Santiago in 1867-79. This design also appeared on silver half decimos, decimos, fifty centavos and pesos of the period. This overdate, 1870/60, is mentioned in the SCWC but awarded no premium. Even so, this example realized fourteen times the catalog value. This design was introduced in 1863 as a 4.6 gram, 0.900 fine coin, then 5 grams, 0.835 fine in 1867 (this type), then 5 grams, 0.500 fine in 1879, then 4 grams, 0.500 fine in 1890, then back to 5 grams, 0.500 fine in 1891 with a small issue of coins at 4.6 grams, .200 fine.
Recorded mintage: 992,000 including the regular date.
Specification: 5 g, 0.835 fine silver, 23 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-138.1.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, September 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancient & World Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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