Catalog
1/2 Centavo
| Issuer | Republic of Chile |
|---|---|
| Year | 1851 |
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| Composition | Copper |
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| Obverse description | A large five-pointed star occupies the central field, rendered in outline with a plain interior. The circular legend REPUBLICA DE CHILE arcs along the upper periphery in raised Latin letters, while the date 1851 appears in the lower field flanked by two small five-pointed stars. The design is simple and bold, typical of early Republican Chilean coinage struck at the Santiago Mint. |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | REPUBLICA DE CHILE 1851 |
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| Additional information |
Chile's 1851 copper fractional issue came at a moment when the republic was struggling to supply small-denomination coinage adequate for daily market transactions. Silver dominated the Santiago mint's output, and copper struck in useful fractions was an intermittent commitment at best. This particular type had a short production window, and surviving examples in problem-free condition are harder to source than catalog frequency suggests.