Chile 1887 1/2 decimo

from the Mountain Groan Collection

This silver half decimo piece was minted in Santiago, Chile, in 1879-94. A previous type using the same design but 0.835 fine (KM 137.2) was issued 1867-81. It was the last five centavos to feature the 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 1887 this had been reduced to .020 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: 3,081,000.

Specification: 1.25 g, 0.500 fine silver, .020 troy oz ASW.

Catalog reference: KM 137.3.

Source:

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

Link to:

• 1880 20 centavos
• 1884 ½ décimo, without fineness
• 1887 2½ centavos
• 1887 peso
• 1888 ½ decimo
• Coins and currency dated 1887
• return to Chile