Volcano Peso, uncirculated
(Jeff Zarit, 1999 NYI)
This is Chile's 1st coin type - the Volcano Peso. Specimens of 1817, with the Y offset and assayer F.J. are by a great margin, the most common. Other dates than 1817 were minted in quantity but are much scarcer today. It appears that a lot of the other early dates of this series were exported to Brazil and were overstamped for their 960 reis coins.
1819 8 Escudos
2 Flags or Dos Bandaras type
type - I
uncirculated (PCGS-64)
Heritage New York International, 2014, lot 23327
ex-Stacks New York International, New York, 2011, lot 1512
This one I attempted to buy in 2011 but I lost it. It reappeared for sale in 2014 where I acquired it.
This is a type I where the Volcanos look like "lumpy hills".
Probably what is shown here is the reverse.
The date "1818" commemorates when Chile declared Independence following the defeat of a Spanish Army in 1817.
The date the coin was struck is shown on the flip side & is 1819.
These coins appear with a more or less uniform spread over the date range: unlike the silver Volcano Pesos.
1832 8 Escudos
2 Flags or Dos Bandaras type
type - II
uncirculated (NGC-64)
Heritage New York International, 2014, lot 23328
ex-Eliasberg auction, New York, 2005
The date "1818" commemorates when Chile declared Independence following the defeat of a Spanish Army in 1817. The date the coin was struck is shown on the flip side & is 1832.
This one I viewed in 2005 when I went to the Eliasberg auction but was unsucessful in buying it back then. Actually I tried to buy the lower grade (ms-62), hairlined, 1818, and lost that one (to Don Canaparo). The 1832 reappeared for sale at Heritage in Jan, 2014. This is a type II, or "improved Volcano". I don't know when the transition between the types occurred.
1838 8 Escudos Hand on Book
Mano Sobre Constitucion,
(Hand Over Constitution)
uncirculated (NGC-62)
Eliasberg Auction, American Numismatic Rarities, New York, 2005
This one I bought in New York when I attended the ANR Eliasberg auction in 2005.
The coin originally came from the John Clapp Collection, whom I believe was a US diplomatic offical in Latin America in the late 1800's. Of the Hand on Book types offered there, this one was the nicest.
Surprisingly enough, a friend of mine bought one of the other Hand on Books and an acquaintance bought one of the earlier types, the 1818 Volcano 8 Escudos in semi P/L unc at this same auction (Eliasberg).
Oh, in case anyone's interested the legend reads "Equality Before the Law"
1841 Two Flags (Dos Bandaras)
8 Escudos, EF-40
Carlos Jara
This type was actually Chile's 1st type of gold coin and was issued before the Hand on Consitution (Mano Sobre Constitucion) type. However, a number of pieces were made from 1836-1841 for engraver trials of the 8E's.
1845 Two Flags (Dos Bandaras)
8 Pesos, (4 Escudos)
EF-45 but w/ small rim bruise
Carlos Jara
Facing Condor
1885/4 Peso, uncirculated
If you look closely at the Condor's feet you can see remains of the broken chains which it had been biting on in the type of 1838-39.
Condor type I
1895 Peso, uncirculated
This is the standard turn of the century type
Actually it's a Condor, not an Eagle.
Condor type II
1903 Peso, uncirculated