A small collection of Chilean Volcano Pesos

Eddi · March 7, 2021 2:47AM

The Volcano peso, known in Chile as the Peso "Chile Independiente", was struck from 1817 until 1834 at the Santiago mint. It is a very popular type coin with an interesting, and I think beautiful and symbolic design.

I have managed to assemble over the years a small collection of these coins, missing still some of the scarcest issues, but including some interesting ones, for example 1817 without an assayer (minted for approximately only 1 month in 1817), and the 1832 Peso which appears only very infrequently.

Please post your examples if you have any, it would be a great pleasure to see them.

1984worldcoins · March 7, 2021 3:19AM

That is a great collection and a nice coin design. I have a few from my year, was not easy to get, a friend from Santiago got them for me.

harasha · March 7, 2021 4:44AM

Boosibri · March 7, 2021 4:59AM

Outstanding collection! Some of the dates are next to impossible or are impossible in the case on the unique 1826 in the British museum

bidask · March 7, 2021 7:24AM

@Boosibri said:
Outstanding collection! Some of the dates are next to impossible or are impossible in the case on the unique 1826 in the British museum

Ditto 👍

WCC · March 7, 2021 7:48AM

I wasn't aware of the 1826, but even aside from that, I doubt there are many complete sets. It's a tough one for sure.

ChopmarkedTrades · March 7, 2021 8:08AM

Really great set, and all raw.

scubafuel · March 7, 2021 8:11AM

Great collection! Thanks for sharing it.
Could you explain the differences between some of the duplicate dates? I recognize the 1817 “centered Y” as very scarce but what are the two 1821s and 1822s? What dates are missing, if any?

Boosibri · March 7, 2021 8:48AM

@WCC said:
I wasn't aware of the 1826, but even aside from that, I doubt there are many complete sets. It's a tough one for sure.

Eddi · March 7, 2021 9:21AM

@scubafuel said:
Great collection! Thanks for sharing it. yewrs are FI
Could you explain the differences between some of the duplicate dates? I recognize the 1817 “centered Y” as very scarce but what are the two 1821s and 1822s? What dates are missing, if any?

The following are the dates and major varieties which are recorded for the Santiago mint Volcano Peso:

1817: 3 varieties - 1817 assayers FJ, 1817 w/o assayer, 1817 assayers FD (chronological order).
1818: 2 varieties - 1818/7 assayer FD and 1818 assayer FD.
1819: 3 varieties - 1819/8 FD, 1819 FD (large smoke stack), 1819 FD (compact smoke stack, new style).
1820: 1 variety - assayers FD
1821: 2 varieties- assayers FD
1822: 1 variety - assayers FI
1823: 1 variety - assayers FI
1824: 1 variety - assayer I
1825: 1 variety - assayer I
1826: 1 variety - assayer I
1830: 1 variety - assayer I
1831: 1 variety - assayer I
1832: 1 variety - assayer I
1833: 1 variety - assayer I
1834: 3 varieties - assayer I, assayer IJ, assayer I/IJ with Philippines C/M

Comments on estimated populations:
The most common years/types are 1817 FJ (by far, I estimate 60-70% of all Pesos are of this type), 1822 FI, followed closely by 1833 I.

All others are very scarce, very rare, or, in some cases unique:

Approx. 8-12 are known of the 1817 w/o assayer.
Approx 15 are known of the 1821.
Approx. 3-4 of 1824.
Approx. 2-3 of 1825.
Only one example is known of 1826 and 1830.
2 examples known of 1831 I (to my knowledge)
Approx. 4-5 examples of 1832.

bidask · March 7, 2021 9:27AM

How scarce is the 1818 ...yours appears to very very nice.

Eddi · March 7, 2021 9:52AM

@bidask said:
How scarce is the 1818 ...yours appears to very very nice.

I attempted a census of Santiago pesos a few years ago. Back then I counted up to 9 examples of 1818, and 6 of the 1818/7.
This is my example of the 1818/7:

Eddi · March 7, 2021 10:00AM

A comment regarding the 18134 IJ with Philippines countermark: this particular coin is also quite common, at least in relation to the general type. It is only second in availability to the 1817 FJ.

I suspect that almost the entire mintage of 1834 IJ was shipped to the Philippines where it was c/m'd for local use.

MrEureka · March 7, 2021 10:23AM

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing.

WCC · March 7, 2021 2:20PM

@Eddi said:

@scubafuel said:
Great collection! Thanks for sharing it. yewrs are FI
Could you explain the differences between some of the duplicate dates? I recognize the 1817 “centered Y” as very scarce but what are the two 1821s and 1822s? What dates are missing, if any?

The following are the dates and major varieties which are recorded for the Santiago mint Volcano Peso:

1817: 3 varieties - 1817 assayers FJ, 1817 w/o assayer, 1817 assayers FD (chronological order).
1818: 2 varieties - 1818/7 assayer FD and 1818 assayer FD.
1819: 3 varieties - 1819/8 FD, 1819 FD (large smoke stack), 1819 FD (compact smoke stack, new style).
1820: 1 variety - assayers FD
1821: 2 varieties- assayers FD
1822: 1 variety - assayers FI
1823: 1 variety - assayers FI
1824: 1 variety - assayer I
1825: 1 variety - assayer I
1826: 1 variety - assayer I
1830: 1 variety - assayer I
1831: 1 variety - assayer I
1832: 1 variety - assayer I
1833: 1 variety - assayer I
1834: 3 varieties - assayer I, assayer IJ, assayer I/IJ with Philippines C/M

Comments on estimated populations:
The most common years/types are 1817 FJ (by far, I estimate 60-70% of all Pesos are of this type), 1822 FI, followed closely by 1833 I.

All others are very scarce, very rare, or, in some cases unique:

Approx. 8-12 are known of the 1817 w/o assayer.
Approx 15 are known of the 1821.
Approx. 3-4 of 1824.
Approx. 2-3 of 1825.
Only one example is known of 1826 and 1830.
2 examples known of 1831 I (to my knowledge)
Approx. 4-5 examples of 1832.

I see mintage records in the NGC World Coin Price Guide. The mintages for the 1825 and 1830 are quite (but not very) low, 3,400 and 6,868. The 1826 none listed.

Are these believed to be accurate? And what is the source of your survival estimates?

If so, seems hard to believe so few exist for all the dates you listed. This would make these dates scarcer than the 1768 columnario 8R as well as some of the other dates. It would also make it rarer than many other columnarios with equivalent or much lower mintages which were issued up to a century earlier, like the Mexico 1732 minors.

WildWestHalfDollars · March 7, 2021 2:22PM

Very nice series!!

WildWestHalfDollars · March 7, 2021 2:26PM

One on ebay for auction:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/1817-FJ-Chile-1-Peso-Santiago-Y-To-Left-3657/124610307486?hash=item1d035a659e:g:4kYAAOSwga1gOU0f

WCC · March 7, 2021 2:44PM

Follow-up on my last post. Here is what NGC and PCGS have graded:

1821: 4 (45, two 55 and one details)
1824: 0
1825: 2 (45, 61PL)
1826: 0
1830: 0
1831: 2 (61, 62)
1832: 5 (45, 53, 55,58, 61, details)

I have never seen any "details" data for PCGS, though it's lower probability for this coinage.

WildWestHalfDollars · March 7, 2021 3:31PM

All you guys make this forum amazing so much knowledge it's great!!!

Eddi · March 8, 2021 2:22AM

The "Chile Independiente" series was struck in 1 peso, 2 real, 1 real and 1/2 real denominations.
Unlike the peso which was struck from 1817 until 1834, the 1 and 2 real coins were struck only in the year1834, and the 1/2 real only in 1833 and 1834.

The 1/2 real "Baby Volcanoes" are also very pretty!

Namvet69 · March 8, 2021 4:48AM

Incredible group of Pesos in both denominations. Glad you shared them with the history lesson. Peace Roy

Boosibri · March 8, 2021 5:23AM

I have seen pictures of two 1825-I Peso's, one the Ponterio piece from 2011 which is the 61PL. The second, lot 57 in the March 31st 1981 Freeman Craig sale which could be the 45.

WCC · March 8, 2021 7:35AM

PCGS has also encapsulated a third 1825 as "XF details" which Heritage sold for about $4,000 in 2013.

Stella · March 9, 2021 5:50PM

How cool! These look great together.

Thanks for sharing.

FilamCoins · March 14, 2021 9:27PM

marvinf · August 3, 2021 6:22PM

1820
The King of circulation strike volcano pesos (NGC MS65 - the only 65 of the whole volcano peso type graded by PCGS or NGC):

bidask · August 3, 2021 6:49PM

@marvinf said:
1820
The King of circulation strike volcano pesos (NGC MS65 - the only 65 of the whole volcano peso type graded by PCGS or NGC):

Looks like a wowser coin for sure! You own it ?

Boosibri · August 3, 2021 7:00PM

@marvinf said:
1820
The King of circulation strike volcano pesos (NGC MS65 - the only 65 of the whole volcano peso type graded by PCGS or NGC):

I wanted to buy the coin when it was consigned with Stacks but the reserve was too high if I recall.

bidask · August 3, 2021 7:05PM

@Boosibri said:

@marvinf said:
1820
The King of circulation strike volcano pesos (NGC MS65 - the only 65 of the whole volcano peso type graded by PCGS or NGC):

I wanted to buy the coin when it was consigned with Stacks but the reserve was too high if I recall.

I think $35,000

pruebas · August 3, 2021 7:06PM

@Boosibri said:

@marvinf said:
1820
The King of circulation strike volcano pesos (NGC MS65 - the only 65 of the whole volcano peso type graded by PCGS or NGC):

I wanted to buy the coin when it was consigned with Stacks but the reserve was too high if I recall.

Where are you going to find another?

If you want the best, you gotta pay up.

Boosibri · August 3, 2021 10:24PM

@pruebas said:

@Boosibri said:

@marvinf said:
1820
The King of circulation strike volcano pesos (NGC MS65 - the only 65 of the whole volcano peso type graded by PCGS or NGC):

I wanted to buy the coin when it was consigned with Stacks but the reserve was too high if I recall.

Where are you going to find another?

If you want the best, you gotta pay up.

Well, No one else paid up (reserve was 2x the Lissner price) and I haven’t lost a second of sleep thinking about it. Maybe one day…

lordmarcovan · August 3, 2021 11:04PM

Very impressive. I've never had one.

Eddi · August 3, 2021 11:14PM

Beautiful Peso Chile Independiente 1820!
Ex Lissner 2014 as I recall.

Eddi · August 4, 2021 7:04AM

This is my example of the 1820 Peso, a 'collectors grade' version of Marvinf's beautiful example....

MrEureka · August 6, 2021 10:37PM

@pruebas said:

@Boosibri said:

@marvinf said:
1820
The King of circulation strike volcano pesos (NGC MS65 - the only 65 of the whole volcano peso type graded by PCGS or NGC):

I wanted to buy the coin when it was consigned with Stacks but the reserve was too high if I recall.

Where are you going to find another?

If you want the best, you gotta pay up.

I've certainly stretched for many irreplaceable coins over the years, but I can't think of anything that I would have bought at absolutely any imaginable price.

marvinf · August 24, 2021 1:11PM

The 1820 MS65 has a new owner!
Probably disappear now for a long time. Undoubtedly a world's record price. I think this happened due to the Cape Coral collection that was auctioned by Heritage and the world's record price for the 1824 Mexico hookneck 8 Reales, a coin that's arguably in the same class as the 1820 Peso save for a smaller collecting base for early Republican coins of Chile. Shortly after that, the coin was sold.

bidask · August 24, 2021 3:41PM

That is big news on the 1820 Chilean peso!

Does not surprise me .

Wonder what it sold for to the new buyer ? 😏

Boosibri · May 7, 2024 11:45AM

@bidask said:

@marvinf said:
1820
The King of circulation strike volcano pesos (NGC MS65 - the only 65 of the whole volcano peso type graded by PCGS or NGC):

Looks like a wowser coin for sure! You own it ?

This N65 now in a P64+ holder

Eddi · May 7, 2024 12:23PM

An 1819 F.D yet which I got from a S&B auction a couple of years ago. This year exists with both small/compact and large smoke clouds issuing from the volcano. My example is the large smoke variety.

Eddi · May 7, 2024 12:26PM

I've enhanced the photos of my "Baby Volcano" collection with a black background. I think it brings out the details a bit better.

Eddi · May 7, 2024 12:34PM

And a group of Volcano type 2 reales. In "collector grades," as is wont to be the case for me.

The 2 reales was issued only in 1834. Some examples show an interesting die break cutting diagonally across the whole of the obverse die.

ELuis · May 7, 2024 1:01PM

I have seen the Peso in different conditions and also just one that was way expensive at 12K that was sold right away, have also seen the 2R and 1R or Un R. But with marks and little welding marks too, and not cheap. These types of coins do not show up that often raw, maybe in auctions but I have not tried that route.

Good stuff posted so far.

Boosibri · May 7, 2024 1:12PM

Boosibri · May 7, 2024 1:15PM

ELuis · May 7, 2024 1:22PM

@Boosibri WOW what a pair of Pesos Independientes - it is yours also the 1820 you posted above?

Boosibri · May 7, 2024 1:28PM

@ELuis said:
@Boosibri WOW what a pair of Pesos Independientes - it is yours also the 1820 you posted above?

No, the guy above who had the 1820 posted to this thread and then I inquired on price. He quoted me $65,000 which is ridiculous for a dark coin with limited eye appeal.

Come to find out head already has a deal in place for less to the current owner and was fishing for a higher bid.

RSP · May 7, 2024 8:18PM

I looked at the Lissner N65 at preview twice before the Lissner auction. I totally agree with you, Brian, it is not a very nice coin. Dark with limited eye appeal is accurate. My description is lackluster, in this case severely lacking luster. Coin was overgraded by NGC and very lucky to be in a P64+ holder now. I have not seen your P64 but I am quite certain that it blows away the Lissner coin.

Abuelo · May 8, 2024 5:07AM

I hope you only paid 64+ money @Boosibri I cannot understand why would you submit accepting a possible downgrade.

Boosibri · May 8, 2024 6:04AM

@Abuelo said:
I hope you only paid 64+ money @Boosibri I cannot understand why would you submit accepting a possible downgrade.

Not my coin.

coinkat · May 8, 2024 8:39AM

Great thread- our host should be thrilled with this- great images, information and participation.

This thread really illustrates the benefit of sponsoring the forum.

Eddi · May 8, 2024 9:08AM

@coinkat , thank you very much for your comment, and that you find this thread interesting.

The coin series "Chile Independiente" - the first coins of the independent Republic of Chile also include, besides the peso, 2 real, 1 real and 1/2 reales, a series of 1/4 real coins minted in 1832, 1833, and 1834.

The 1/4 real are quite scarce today, generically scarcer than all other denominations. Coins dated 1832 (actually 1832/1) tend to be the year most commonly seen. 1833 is a bit scarcer, while 1834 is actually rare, with only 20 or so coins known today.

These are my examples.....the 1833 is actually quite nice and lustrous. I lack an 1834, so that is on the cards still.

A small collection of Chilean Volcano Pesos

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