The Chilean 2 Reales coin was minted between 1843 and 1852 at the Santiago Mint and is known for its design of the condor breaking chains. According to the Chilean National Numismatic Catalog, all dates on this coin are marked with a date from 1843 to 1852. unknown print runsTherefore, rarity is deduced through indirect evidence, such as auction notes and presence in collections.
Design Condor breaking chains de The 2 Reales coin of Chile (1843–1852) It wasn't created for this broadcast, but was already in use since 1834 In Chilean numismatics, it is a symbol of freedom, independence, and a break with colonial domination, later becoming a patriotic emblem of the young republic.
Origin and design
This coin circulated from the enactment of the monetary law of 1843 until the transition to the decimal system in 1852. The National Museum of Decorative Arts confirms that the series spanned those years and has no mintage records. The assayers' initials—IJ, JM, ML, and LA—and the mint mark “So” appear on the reverse, distinguishing the annual issues.
Rarity of the dates and available evidence
Since there are no mintage figures, rarity is based on variant analysis, presence at auctions, and frequency in collections.
The 1851 LA variant with “GHILE” error
The National Numismatic Catalogue of Chile recognizes a variant in which the legend “República de Chile” shows a C transformed into a G, so it reads “GhileThis error is documented by an auction house, which in 2025 classified the piece as rareFurthermore, only a small percentage of collectors own it, which reinforces its exceptional nature.
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The final coinage of 1852
The last issue of the Chilean 2 Reales coin was produced in 1852 and is considered very rare. A Chilean catalog indicates that its minting is unknown, and its appearances on the market are limited. As it was the final coin in the series, its survival seems unlikely.
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The 1850 variants
The year 1850 saw the introduction of the assayer LA and the appearance of variants with the overdate 1850/49 and combinations of LA/ML punches. These pieces are difficult to find, and their scarcity is inferred from their low frequency in collections and the lack of information about their mintage.
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The Chilean 2 Reales coin constitutes one of the most complex and challenging series in Chilean republican numismatics, precisely because of the lack of official minting records. Between 1843 and 1852, the Chilean 2 Reales coin is defined and studied not through conclusive figures, but through the rigorous analysis of variants, documented errors, and its actual availability in recognized collections and auctions. The 1851 Chilean 2 Reales coin with the legend error “GHILE” stands out as the most exceptional date due to its anomalous nature and its explicit recognition as a rare piece in the specialized market.
The 1852 Chilean 2 Reales coin, as the final coin in the series, exhibits significant scarcity due to its status as the last issue, while the 1850 variants reinforce the complexity of the final period through overdating and assayer changes. Overall, the Chilean 2 Reales coinage reflects a moment of monetary and symbolic transition in the country, where rarity is based not on absolute numbers, but on verified historical evidence and responsible numismatic observation.
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