40 Centésimos de Real Sol de Cabellera/Haired Sun
1844 year| Copper | 37 g | 39 mm |
| Issuer | Uruguay |
|---|---|
| Period | Oriental Republic of Uruguay (1825-date) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Year | 1844 |
| Value | 40 Centésimos (1⁄20) |
| Currency | Peso fuerte (1830-1862) |
| Composition | Copper |
| Weight | 37 g |
| Diameter | 39 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | 14 July 1902 |
| Updated | 2024-10-09 |
| Numista | N#130790 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 93% |
Reverse
Value in a circle, surrounded with two wreaths.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
CENTESIMOS
40
Translation: 40 Cents.
Engraver: Lucien Mége
Edge
Smooth
Liso
Comment
First Uruguayan coins were minted at Montevideo on 1840 to 1855. After that date no more coins were minted in the country.
Since the mintage was done in a nearly hand-crafted way, there are several variants on each year; they were catalogued by Marcos Silvera Antunez, but not described in main catalogues.
Year list shows the variants, identified with Silvera's number (SA) he uses 3 levels instead of 2, first is the coin number (different on each year), the second is the variant, and the third describes the alignment (1= coin; 2= medal; 3= 90º or 270º, and 4=rest of alignments).
Mintage is estimated, because there is not a record of the quantities issued, and only a small amount of the original contract were issued.
This coin is known as "Sol de Cabellera" (haired sun), as shows a full head in the sun instead of only the face. Possibly engraver wanted to show a native's head, or just wanted to add hair. Some world catalogs describes it as female face.
Silvera Antunez claims this coin is a variant of his catalog # 6.x.x, as he ranks all coins with same face value in same identifier, and then consider the variants and alignments. Other catalogs consider this coin as a different one, as the sun face on obverse has long hair, different to the others of the time, that only had a face on the sun. The reverse is the same as the used on one of the variants of KM# 3 (SA# 6.7.1 / CG# 6.7.A).
Interesting fact
The 40 Centésimos de Real (Sol de Cabellera/Haired Sun) coin from Uruguay, made of Copper and weighing 37g, features an interesting design element - the image of the sun on the obverse side has a distinctive hairstyle, which gives the coin its name "Sol de Cabellera" or "Haired Sun." This unique design was introduced during the reign of Uruguay's first president, Fructuoso Rivera, and was meant to symbolize the country's independence and sovereignty.
