Two small silvers, two different years: the 20 centavos of 1895 (3.35 million) and the tiny 16 mm 5 centavos of 1896 (600,000) — the workhorses and the rarity of Puerto Rico’s provincial series.
History
- Both struck at the Madrid mint as part of the 1895–1896 provincial series.
- The 20 centavos carries the Alfonso XIII bust obverse like its larger siblings.
- The 5 centavos has a unique design: the denomination replaces the king’s portrait as the central obverse device, with the "ISLA DE PUERTO RICO" legend and the date flanked by stars; the crowned arms stand alone on the reverse.
Key dates & varieties
- 20 centavos: 1895 only — mintage 3,350,000.
- 5 centavos: 1896 only — mintage 600,000. There is no 1895 5 centavos.
Specifications
- 20 centavos: 5.00 g, .900 silver.
- 5 centavos: 1.20–1.25 g, .900 silver, 16 mm.
Collector notes
- The 5 centavos’ tiny size and low mintage make high-grade survivors scarce; check for weak strikes and edge reeding on all the fractionals.