Longacre and the Chilean Dies of 1867

Collectors who specialize in the coins of Chile have long known that there was a dramatic change in the dies for the gold and silver coinage beginning in 1867. It is little known, however, that the dies were executed in the United States under the personal direction of James B. Longacre, chief engraver of the United States Mint at Philadelphia.

Chile tried to obtain independence from Spain as early as 1810, but within three years the rebellion had been crushed and it was not until 1817 that a successful revolt was mounted by Bernardo O’Higgins.

The Santiago Mint had long been well known in Spanish America for its coinage, though never produced in large amounts. The area could have easily have been served by the mints at Lima or Potosi, but regional pride demanded a mint and got one in the early 1740s.

There are several vignettes found on the early Chilean coinage, but two of them have remained current until the present day while a third was used until the 1890s. The first was the national coat of arms adopted in June 1834 and which featured a condor to the right and huemul (a species of native deer) on the left surrounding a five-pointed star. Each animal bears a naval crown while surmounting the whole is a three-feathered plume. The full coat of arms