Chile 1856-So 50 centavos

Heritage sale 3010, part of lot 22391

This specimen was part of lot 22391 in Heritage sale 3010 (Boston, August 2010), which sold for $322. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Republic Lot of Five Scarce Minors, ...50 Centavos 1855 & 1856...--both VF. The last three coins show evidence of being cleaned." This fifty centavo piece was minted in Santiago, Chile, in 1853-62. An upright condor was adopted for 1862-67 (KM 134) with a lower relief used for 1867-72 (KM 139). This condor with outspread wings also appeared on half decimos and decimos and twenty centavos coins of the 1850's. The low relief contributed to a rather drab design which wore down rapidly in circulation. Overdates (1856/5) are reported.

Recorded mintage: 606,000.

Specification: 12.5 g, .900 fine silver, 30 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM 128.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[1]Tucker, Warren, Scott Cordry and John Kraljevich, Heritage Sale 3010: World Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2010.

Link to:

• 1855 20 centavos
• 1855 50 centavos
• 1856 ½ décimo
• 1856 peso
• 1859 10 pesos
• 1857 20 centavos
• 1858 50 centavos
• 1862 50 centavos, perched condor
• Coins and currency dated 1856
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