Chile 1869 1/2 decimo

from the Mountain Groan Collection

This silver half decimo piece was minted in Santiago, Chile, in 1867-81. A later type using the same design but 0.500 fine (KM 137.3) was issued 1879-94. It featured the same upright condor design also used on the decimo, twenty centavos and fifty centavos and peso. The half decimo contained .036 troy oz of silver in 1851-59; by 1874 this had been reduced to .033 troy oz. The decline did not stop with this type; the coin shrank until it was converted to copper-nickel in 1920. Most dates are common tho nice specimens do not turn up as often as the low catalog value would lead one to think.

Recorded mintage: 293,000.

Specification: 1.25 g, 0.835 fine silver, .033 troy oz ASW.

Catalog reference: KM 137.2.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.

Link to:

• 1868 ½ decimo
• 1869 décimo
• 1869 peso
• 1869 10 pesos
• 1870 ½ decimo
• Coins and currency dated 1869
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