½ Peso


Silver (.900) (Copper .100)	12.5 g	30.5 mm

Description

Issuer	Dominican Republic › Dominican Republic (1844-date)
Period	Third Republic (1922-1965)
Type	Standard circulation coin
Years	1937-1961
Value	½ Peso ½ DOP = USD 0.0083
Currency	Peso oro (1937-date)
Composition	Silver (.900) (Copper .100)
Weight	12.5 g
Diameter	30.5 mm
Thickness	2.0 mm
Shape	Round
Technique	Milled
Orientation	Coin alignment ↑↓
Updated	2024-10-04

References

Numista	N#19967
Rarity index	25%

Reverse

The head of an Indian woman ("Liberty") facing left with the denomination to the left, the weight to the right, and the date below

Script: Latin

Lettering:
MEDIO PESO
12½ GRAMOS
1937
LIBERTAD
HP

Translation:
Half peso
12.5 grams
1937
Liberty
HP

Engraver: Thomas Humphrey Paget

Edge

Reeded

Comment

In 1937-1947, there were no banknotes in Dominican pesos denomination. Instead, US dollars were in circulation (since 1905). Local coins were circulating with US coins, like in Panama and Ecuador. The coins had weights, diameters, and composition identical to those of US coins of that period.

Silver coins of the Dominican Republic were not officially demonetized, but they disappeared from circulation by the 1970s because of inflation.

Interesting fact

One interesting fact about the ½ Peso coin from the Dominican Republic (1937-1961) is that it was made of a unique alloy of 90% silver and 10% copper, which gives it a distinctive color and durability.