If any of you have ever been to Chile you will probably have seen one of its many Volcanoes. That narrow but very long country - 4000 kilometers long from the northern desert of Tarapaca (driest desert in the world), all the way down to the frigid landscapes of Tierra del Fuego - is dotted all along with volcanoes. Appropriately, Chile's first republican coinage after achieving independence from Spain in 1818 features a volcano on the reverse, and a column topped by a sun on the obverse. Here are two examples of that coinage, one an 8 reales (1818/7 overdate), the other an 1 real. I find these coins very appealing, and they do enjoy great popularity with collectors. I hope you enjoy seeing these symbolic coins. Eduard
Eduard, Thanks for sharing those photos. They also have similar gold designs that are very classic. Hope to get one someday.
Very nice coins, especially the overdate. I really like the volcano design, and also enjoy the andean condor that adorns so many Chilean coin denominations of the late 1800's.
Glad you guys liked it. As you mentioned Silvereagle, the Republic of Chile also minted similar Volcano motives in Gold (8, 4 2 and 1 escudo) - they are really nice. The motif is similar in inspiration to the Republic of Central America coinage of that period, which shows a sun face emerging from behind a chain of mountains. The silver issues from Chile, like the one i show here were also minted in 2 and 1/2 real denominations. The 1/2 Real is a tiny coin, approx the size of a half dime, and looks really "cute":
