Chile 1884 1/2 decimo KM-149
The first specimen was lot 73161 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2023), where it sold for $408. The catalog description[1] noted, "CHILE. 1/2 Decimo, 1884-So. Santiago Mint. PCGS MS-65. Mule variety without "0.5". A brilliant little jewel, ablaze with flashy luster." The second specimen was lot 1019 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 39 (Winter Park, FL, May 2026), where it did not sell. The catalog description[2] noted, "CHILE, Santiago, ½ décimo, 1884, mule variety without 0.5 fineness, rare, NGC MS 64 (Colección Val y Mexía Label). KM-149. Very faint purplish toning over luster, deep strike, rare and curious mule with open space between CHILE and mintmark where the fineness should appear. Pedigreed to the Val y Mexía Collection." The regular half décimo was struck in 0.500 fine silver 1879-94. This mule was struck without the fineness using the old reverse die from KM 137.2. It is awarded a slight premium in the SCWC but this example realized eight times the catalog value. The design was shared with the décimo, twenty centavos, fifty centavos and silver peso.
Recorded mintage: 664,000 including KM 137.3.
Specification: 1.25 g, 0.500 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-149.
- 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.
- [2]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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