How to Identify the Argentine Peso Moneda Nacional (Patacón)

What the Coin Is

The Peso Moneda Nacional was Argentina's silver peso issued starting in the early 1880s under the country's national currency reform. Collectors nicknamed a well-known type the "Patacón," a colloquial Spanish term historically used for large silver coins generally. It circulated as the principal silver denomination of the era.

Obverse Design & Inscriptions

The obverse displays a Liberty head facing left (or right, depending on variety), often wearing a cap or with flowing hair, sometimes accompanied by rays or a radiant border. The legend "REPUBLICA ARGENTINA" typically arcs around the portrait, with the date below.

Reverse Design & Inscriptions

The reverse carries the Argentine coat of arms — two clasped hands holding a staff topped by a Phrygian cap, framed by a rising sun, with the denomination "UN PESO" and "MONEDA NACIONAL" inscribed around or below the arms.

Size, Weight, Metal, Edge

This silver peso weighs approximately 25 grams with a diameter near 37 mm, in .900 fine silver, matching the international silver crown standard of the period. The edge is reeded.

Mint Marks & Where to Find Them

Most coins of this type were struck without a distinct mintmark or bear a small mint identifier near the date; check the area just below the portrait and along the rim near the legend for any small die markers or engraver initials.

Telling It Apart from Similar Coins

Because several Latin American nations issued similar Liberty-head silver pesos in this era (including Uruguay and other neighboring states), always confirm the country name "REPUBLICA ARGENTINA" in the legend and the specific coat-of-arms details — the clasped hands and sun are unique to Argentina's design.

Judging Condition at a Glance

Check the hair detail and cap of the Liberty portrait, along with the fine lines of the sun's rays on the reverse, as these wear down first. A sharp strike will show individual hair strands and distinct facial features; well-worn examples flatten the portrait into a smooth profile.

Authenticity Red Flags

Genuine pieces have a properly reeded edge and a dense, cool feel typical of struck silver. Suspect coins with mushy or indistinct lettering, a magnetic response, incorrect diameter, or a edge that looks molded rather than mechanically reeded, all of which point toward a modern reproduction or cast counterfeit.