Peru 1943-S 5 centavos
The five centavos denomination was originally occupied by the silver medio dinero, struck 1863-1917. It was superseded by a copper-nickel type in 1918, which was replaced by this brass coin in 1942 when World War Two drove up the price of nickel. The weight of the coin was reduced even further in 1966 and issued in this size until 1973, when mintage was suspended, inflation having made the denomination useless. This date, a product of the San Francisco mint, is somewhat scarce. This type is accompanied by brass ten and twenty centavos.
Recorded mintage: 4,000,000.
Specification: brass, 17 mm diameter, plain edge.
Catalog reference: KM 213.2a.2.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Yabar Acuña, Francisco, Monedas Fiduciaras del Peru, 1822-2000, Lima, 2001.