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How Many Varieties?

There are three recognized varieties of Silver Souvenir Pesos from 1897. In this article I will explain the differences in each and touch on different things to look for when grading/ buying these coins. 

Variety Number One "PAT. 97 on Neck / Wide Date"

Key Points
  • Krause X# M1
  • Mintage 828
  • Features PAT.97 on the base of neck
  • Features large gaps between numbers in the date 
  • NGC has certified these as “Wide Date” and “PAT. 97 on Neck”
  • PCGS has certified these as “PAT. 97” 
Strike Quality Differences in PAT. 97 Pesos
Grading PAT. 97 Pesos
  • Grading services will check the highlighted areas for rub when determining if the coin is uncirculated (MS) or About uncirculated (AU)
  • Lack of details does not imply that the coin is not uncirculated. These coins often had weak strikes which can result in missing details.
  • Nearly all souvenir pesos have a dull gray color and do not have as much luster as other .900 silver coins
  • The coin pictured is PCGS MS62 

Variety Number Two "Close Date Star Below Baseline"

Key Points
  • Krause X# M2
  • Mintage 4,286
  • Features star on right side blow the 7 in 1897
  • NGC has certified these recently as “Close Date” 
  • PCGS has certified these as “Close Date Star Below”

Variety Number Three "Close Date Stars Above"

Key Points
  • Krause X# M3
  • Mintage 4,856
  • Features star on right side above baseline of date
  • NGC has certified these recently as “Close Date” 
  • PCGS has certified these as “Close Date Star Above”

Things to Remember When Buying Souvenir Pesos

  • NGC now certifies X#M2 and X#M3 as close date and does not describe whether the coin is star above or below. 
  • It is nearly impossible to to find these with lots of visual luster and eye appeal
  • PAT. 97 is the hardest of the 3 to find.

Author

Andrew Lydic – Numismatist – E-Commerce Manager at Coinacopia

Works Cited

Images courtesy of Heritage Auctions

“Cuba.” Unusual World Coins: Companion Volume to Standard Catalog of World Coins, by George S. Cuhaj, KP                     Books, 2011, pp. 158–159.

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