Inexplicable: understand why a mysterious coin has intrigued historians

Recently, academics at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru stumbled upon a major problem.

During economic studies and the use of money by the Peruvian people over the centuries, they came across a coin which should not have been minted.

We are talking about an object that represented 10 Peruvian cents, which, at that time, was known to everyone as ‘money‘.

Scholars received some copies from local traders and, at first glance, the items seemed perfect, but there was a small problem that would make all the difference.

All units were dated 1899, and in that year the country’s Mint did not manufacture any pieces with this value.

Therefore, the findings were sent to the institution’s chemistry laboratory for a more detailed analysis of its components, and the results were enlightening.

Coin mystery solved?

Fake units obtained by researchers – Image: Pontifical Catholic University of Peru/Reproduction

After elaborate tests, it was discovered that the scientists were faced with falsifications. As mentioned before, with the naked eye, the coin It looked real, as it had the same size, color and other characteristics as an original copy.

But when the objects were exposed to an X-ray session and some light measurements, it was discovered that they were composed of copper, zinc and nickel, which together form an alloy called nickel silver. In short, it is similar to silver, but has none of it.

According to experts, this type of metal is widely used to make cutlery, but not to mint official coins, since the Peruvian Mint only works with pure silver.

The more detailed results of the studies were published in the journal Heritage Science, but there were still loose ends in the story. For example: we still have no idea who could have made these falsifications or the reasons for this.

The researchers plan to seek help from a collector which has a large collection of various coins dating from 1830 onwards, in order to have access to other units of money from 1899.

Next, it is also planned to work together with historians to resolve the case. Therefore, to date, the most acceptable answer for the existence of the pieces lies in the economic situation that Peru was going through in that specific period.

The country had just been defeated in the Pacific War and needed to repay a large amount of international loans taken out to finance the conflict.

Therefore, the government was more concerned about issuing paper banknotes.

Finally, the most accepted theory is that some scammer took advantage of the situation to make low-value objects, which circulated more easily among poor people, especially in open-air markets.

This way, he would have harmed many unwary people more easily.