Chile 1956 peso

from the Mountain Groan Collection

The specimen shown is an example of a type struck in Santiago, Chile, in 1954-58, superseding a copper coin of similar design. Depicted is the hero of the struggle against the Spanish, Bernardo O'Higgins. It is the last relic of a once proud denomination that was silver in the nineteenth century. In 1960, the peso was dropped in favor of the escudo, with 1 escudo = 1000 pesos. The escudo itself was abandoned in 1975 for a return to the peso, with 1 new peso = 100 escudos.

Recorded mintage: 58,250,000.

Specification: aluminum, plain edge, 25 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM 179a.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.

Link to:

• 1955 peso
• 1956 5 pesos
• 1956 10 pesos
• Chile 1956 100 pesos
• 1957 peso
• Coins and currency dated 1956
• return to Chile