50 Centavos, the unveil

Centavo. It’s a Spanish or Portuguese word meaning “ one-hundredth”. It could be 1/100 of a Peso, Real, Boliviano, Cordoba, or any of the basic monetary unit of it’s host Country. This collection is about ½ of that basic unit, the 50 Centavos. I have researched the countries, which have had or currently circulate the 50 Centavos coinage. Some of these countries utilized the Centavo during the 19th Century and changed in the 20th or 21st. Others still circulate the 50 Centavos. I plan to present in Alphabetical order and invite others to share their examples.I might get a couple out of order since I am still waiting on a couple to arrive. I really didn’t have a specific grade in mind, just the best example I could locate within the budget I allocated for the collection. Some are uncirculated while others will show some wear. Some are Silver others are base metal. All will show history and diversity. I present a few each day to allow for comments and for your additions. I hope you enjoy.



Angola: 100 Centavos = 1 Escudo
Angola is located on the West Coast of South Africa. It began using the Centavo in 1910 while a Colony of Portugal. Angola declared independence in 1975.

Angola 1923 KM# 65
Mintage 6,000,000
31 mm Nickel



Argentina: 100 Centavos = 1 Peso (1903-1985) = 1 Austral (1988-1992) = 1 Peso (1992-current)
Argentina 1941 KM# 39
Mintage 1,000,000
24.5 mm Nickel
One year type



Bolivia: 100 Centavos = 1 Boliviano
Bolivia began using the Centavos in 1870. The 50 Centavos is marked Medio B o, Medio Boliviano, 50 C, or 50 Cent s. Sometimes with more than one shown on the coin.

Bolivia 1895 PTS ES KM# 161.5
1/2 Boliviano
Mintage 3,390,000
30 mm 0.9000 Silver 0.3328 ASW



Brazil: 100 Centavos = 1 Cruzeiro (1942-1996) = 1 Cruzado (1986-1989)= 1 Novo Cruzado (1989-1994) 1 Real (1994-Current)

Brazil 1944 KM# 557a
Mintage 12,102,000
21.3 mm Aluminum-Bronze



Cape Verde: 100 Centavos = I Escudo
Cape Verde is Africa’s smallest republic. Cape Verde was under Portuguese rule until 1975.

Cape Verde 1930 KM# 4
Mintage 1,000,000
22.7 mm Nickel-Bronze



Chile: 100 Centavos = 1 Peso (1835-Current)

Chile 1979 KM# 206a
Mintage 28,000,000
22.06 mm Aluminum-Bronze





Columbia: 100 Centavos = 1 Pesos (1874- current)

Columbia 1948 KM# 209
Mintage 707,000
30 mm 0.5000 Silver 0.2009 ASW



Cuba: 100 Centavos = 1 Pesos (1902-Current)
It is difficult and chancy to obtain post-1962 coinage from Cuba in the US at this time.

Cuba 1953 KM# 28
Mintage 2,000,000
38 mm 0.9000 Silver 0.3617 ASW


to be continued...

 

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I really like the Portuguese based ones.

 

sonlarson,
Cool coins, love all those with Phrygian caps. I think you've touched off a collecting theme.

 

Great coins!

 

Cool group and nicely varied too

 

No collection of the Phrygian cap theme is complete without a human gallbladder

 

Ecuador: 100 Centavos = 1 Sucre (1909- Current)

Ecuador 1975 KM# 81
Mintage NA
23 mm Nickel Clad Steel


El Salvador: 100 Centavos = 1 Peso (1889- current)

El Salvador 1953 KM# 138
Mintage 3,000,000
21 mm 0.9000 Silver 0.1447 ASW
One year type


Galapagos Island: 100 Centavos = 1 Dollar (2008)
This is not an official coin, it is more of a token.
The Island, owned by Ecuador, mostly uses the US Dollar as its currency.

Galapagos Island 2008 KM#
Mintage NA
30.5 mm Copper-Nickel
Token Non-Circulating


to be continued....

 

Cool. Thanks for sharing

 

Costa Rica: 100 Centavos = 1 Peso
The 50 Centavos from Columbia was marked either 50 C s or 50 Centavos. The one marked 50 Centavos were only marked as such for a few years. 1880,85,86,87,89, and 1890. The 50 Centavos changed to 50 Centimos and the Peso became the Colon.

I was unable to locate a clean example of a coin marked 50 Centavos or 50 C s, so I settled for a 1923 Counterstamped Un Colon with a weak strike on a counterstamped 1887 50 Centavos. The 50 Centavos is clearly visible. This will have to do for now until I can locate a better specimen.

Costa Rica KM# 163
Mintage NA
31mm 0.7500 Silver 0.3014 ASW


Guatemala: 100 Centavos = 1 Peso (1871-1923) = 1 Quetzal (1932- current)

Guatemala 1962 KM# 264
Mintage 1,983,000
30.95 mm 0.7200 Silver 0.2778 ASW



Honduras: 100 Centavos = 1 Peso (1881- current)

Honduras 1937 KM# 74
Mintage 1,000,000
24 mm 0.9000 Silver 0.1808 ASW


to be continued...

 

Great idea for a collection. Looking forward to seeing the rest.

 

Mexico: 100 Centavos = 1 Peso (1875- current)
Mexico 1907 KM# 445
Mintage 18,920,000
30 mm 0.8000 Silver 0.3215 ASW


Mozambique: 100 Centavos = 1 Escudo (1936-1972)
Mozambique was a Portuguese colony until 1975

Mozambique 1936 KM# 65
Mintage 2,500,000
23 mm Copper-Nickel
One year type


Nicaragua: 100 Centavos = 1 Cordoba (1912 - current)

Nicaragua 1956 KM# 19.1
Mintage 2,000,000
26 mm Copper-Nickel

 

Small... but nice!

 

I like this couple very much!

 

Fat man from Brazil.

 

Bolivian couple.

 

Another half from Bolivia.

 

Half from Argentina.

 

One of my favorite.

 

One of my favorites also, don't know why I don'y have one. Maybe I'll expand my collection from the Philippines one of these days. Working on Cuba now.
Thanks Eugene, I knew you would come up with some good examples. Lets see some more from the rest of the members.

 

Good timing on this for me. Today I received one I've been seeking for a long time, 1908 Mexico 50 centavos. It's a key date and the one in the series with the highest book value. Now I just need the 1918 large version. Also I'm posting the 1956 version, which is one of the coins that got me interested in Mexican coins in the first place.

I have other 50 centavos I could share here but I don't have easy access to get photos.