El Salvador 1, 3, 5, 10, 25, and 50 Centavos 1889 to 2002

El Salvador's 1 centavo coin has not changed much over the years. The design remains the same, but the minting metal is different from time to time. In addition, 3, 5, 10, 25, and 50 centavos denominations have also appeared with essentially the same design except, of course, for the numeral on the back.

Note: there are El Salvadoran coins that do not use the design in our picture. This page applies only to coins with the male portrait on one side and the wreathed denomination on the other side.

These coins have been minted in copper-nickel, bronze, brass, copper-zinc, clad steel, and silver. Values for coins dated after 1939 are generally low, except for a few special cases outlined below. Earlier dates are more valuable, also shown belwo. Typical catalog values run like this:

MOST 1, 3, 5, 10, 25, and 50 CENTAVOS AFTER 1939:
worn: less than $1 US dollar approximate catalog value
average circulated: less than $1
well preserved: $1
fully uncirculated: $5

SPECIAL DATES AFTER 1939:
5 centavos 1940: $10 well preserved
5 centavos 1951: $6 well preserved
10 centavos 1951: $12 well preserved
25 centavos 1943: $10 well preserved (contains 0.217 troy ounces silver)
25 centavos 1944: $10 well preserved (contains 0.217 troy ounces silver)
25 centavos 1953: $10 well preserved (contains 0.072 troy ounces silver)
50 centavos 1953: $6 well preserved (contains 0.145 troy ounces silver)

1 CENTAVO BEFORE 1940:
worn: $2 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $8
well preserved: $20
fully uncirculated: $40

3 CENTAVOS BEFORE 1940:
worn: $2 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $8
well preserved: $20
fully uncirculated: $50

5 CENTAVOS BEFORE 1940:
worn: $3 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $7
well preserved: $15
fully uncirculated: $60

BTW, Mike, our catalogs do not show an El Salvador 1 centavo with a 1911 date. Do you mean, perhaps, another coin? If so, re-submit with a more thorough description.
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