Colombia 1887-M 5 decimos
This five décimos was struck in Medellin, Colombia, of a type issued 1887-88. The Medellin mint began issuing five décimos in 1868 along with the Bogotá mint, the denomination being completely unknown in Colombia until then. The Bogotá mint, however, switched to fifty centavos pieces (of the same size and weight) in 1872. Production increased after the issue of silver pesos ceased in 1871. Popayán also issued a few 1868-78 but concentrated on gold coins. To the delight and despair of collectors, the half dollars of Colombia come in a profusion of dates, styles, varieties and errors and form a collecting specialty all their own. The 1887-M, with the obverse legend "REPUBLICA DE COLOMBIA" instead of the earlier "ESTADOS UNIDOS DE COLOMBIA," is quite scarce. The second specimen was lot 44437 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Philadelphia, August 2018), where it sold for $1,200. The catalog description[1] noted, "COLOMBIA. 5 Decimos, 1887. Medellin Mint. MS-62 (PCGS). Inverted '5' in 'LEI 0,500'. Fully lustrous and lightly toned. From the Eldorado Collection of Colombian Coins."
Recorded mintage: 84,000.
Specification: 12.5 g, 0.500 fine silver, .201 troy oz ASW, edge lettered DIOS LEI LIBERTAD.
Catalog reference: KM-165; Restrepo-400.1a.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Almanzar, Alcedo, and Dale Seppa, Coins of Colombia, San Antonio, TX: 1973.
- Restrepo, Jorge Emilio, Monedas de Colombia, 1619-2006, Medellin, Colombia: Impresiones Rojo, 2006.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio and Chris Chatigny, The August 2018 Philadelphia ANA Auction: World Coins and Selections from the El Dorado Collection of Colombian Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2018.
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