Catalog
40 Centésimos de Real not used trial
| Issuer | Uruguay |
|---|---|
| Year | 1854 |
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| In circulation to | 1854 |
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| Obverse description | Central device depicting a radiant sun with a facing human countenance, its rays extending outward in alternating straight and wavy form into the open field. The circular legend REPUBLICA ORIENTAL DEL URUGUAY runs around the periphery, with the date 1854 positioned in the lower exergual area. The design is rendered in relatively low relief, consistent with a trial or pattern striking. |
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| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
Uruguay's early monetary history was tangled. The republic had only formalized its currency system in the 1840s, and by the 1850s there were competing proposals for denominations and metallic standards that never survived to adoption. This piece belongs to that contested period — a trial strike produced to evaluate a proposed 40 centésimos de real denomination that was ultimately rejected before any circulation coinage was authorized.
At 41 grams in copper, the weight alone suggests this was never a serious candidate for everyday commerce. The heft points to a proof-of-concept strike, likely produced in small numbers for official review.