Catalog
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| Issuer | Republic of Chile |
|---|---|
| Year | 1871-1877 |
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| Currency | Old peso (1835-1959) |
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| Obverse description | Left-facing draped bust of Liberty wearing a wreath of wheat and flowers in her flowing hair, occupying the central field. The mint mark 'S' (Santiago Mint) appears below the truncation at the bottom of the coin. The circular legend 'REPUBLICA DE CHILE' runs along the outer periphery, and the entire design is bordered by a toothed rim. |
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| Reverse description | The denomination 'UN CENTAVO' is inscribed in two lines in large raised letters at the centre of the field, surrounded by an inner circle of raised beads. The date appears at the bottom between two small five-pointed stars. The patriotic motto 'ECONOMIA ES RIQUEZA' (Economy is Wealth) curves around the upper periphery outside the bead circle, with the entire design framed by a toothed rim. |
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| Additional information |
Chile's switch to copper-nickel for this denomination in 1871 was part of a broader Latin American push toward token coinage that could survive coastal humidity and heavy commercial use better than pure copper. The centavo series ran through 1877, when fiscal pressure and falling copper prices prompted a reassessment of the entire subsidiary coinage structure — production was quietly halted rather than formally discontinued.