Catalog
50 Centavos
| Issuer | El Salvador |
|---|---|
| Year | 1970-1977 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 50 Centavos (0.50 SVC) |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The bold numeral 50 dominates the central field, with the denomination legend CENTAVOS inscribed below in capitals. The numeral and legend are framed by a symmetrical wreath of olive branches tied at the base with a decorative bow, their sprays sweeping upward on either side to frame the denomination. A fine dentilated border encircles the entire design along the rim. |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Log in to see details |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
El Salvador's monetary system through much of the mid-twentieth century was tightly bound to coffee export revenues, and the Banco Central de Reserva adjusted coinage accordingly — shifting composition as nickel prices and domestic industrial policy dictated. The 1970 nickel-clad steel issue reflects post-1960s cost-cutting common across Latin American mints, while the heavier 1977 nickel striking came just as the country was entering the political turbulence that would precede the civil war of 1979–1992.
The two compositions under KM#140 are sometimes conflated in collections, but the weight differential alone distinguishes them without chemical testing.