Owner Comments:
The 1872 Dinero is rare in all grades. Mid-grade examples do surface on great occasion, though. I know of a collector who has put together a small hoard of approximately 10 coins of this date. In mint state it is extremely rare. I only know of three mint state coins: mine in MS 64 and the Whittier MS 65. The third is a raw coin that sold in an Italian Auction Firm's lot in November 2017. It would appear that this coin is a Gem, perhaps even MS 66, but no close-up photo or photo of the reverse is given (see further discussion below). I have also seen a raw AU/UNC in Peru. 1872 Dineros were struck on a single day, June 13th. 2,000 Soles worth were struck, or 20,000 pieces. This did not go far to providing the country with a circulating medium.
According to Flatt, and my experience, all examples have the overdate 7/6 and YJ/B, even though some NGC holders omit those details. Krause shows escalating values for the over-lettering, and over-lettering plus overdate, but this is unnecessary. The overdate may be very difficult to see on circulated examples, however. The "6" is very faint, even on mint state examples. The description 1872/62 is not correct, as the "2" is not over a "2", nor can it be since Dineros were first minted in 1863. The correct description is 1872 7/6 YJ/B. All genuine coins have a dramatic F/P in FINO.
Pricing is difficult, as auction history is limited. I have an associate who tells me my MS 64 would be worth $1000 to collectors in Peru. I'm not sure if that healthy of a market exists yet for Dineros in the United States. The Whittier MS 65 coin sold for $373.75 in 2006. Most all prices for Latin American coins have doubled since that auction, especially rarities, so in today's money that would be at least $750. The 1872 Dinero auctioned by an Italian firm mentioned in the opening paragraph sold with nine other coins for 600 Euros. The rest of the coins were low value, so one can surmise that this Dinero brought about 650 dollars. With high quality photos of the obverse and reverse, this coin could have made it to four figures. I did not bid because I did not see it laying around in a group of mostly low value coins!
One graded in VF (YJ/B), one in XF 45, one in MS 64 (1872/62 YJ/B), and one in MS 65 (1872 YJ/B). All at NGC. I briefly owned the XF 45 and can attest it was an 1872 7/6 YJ/B.
The set specimen, likely the second finest known for all 1872 Dineros, features completely mark free fields and a strong strike. Both sides are bathed in rich sepia old cabinet toning. Someone obviously took great care of this coin over the years. The grade limiting factor is subdued luster under the toning, which is more pronounced on the obverse than the reverse. The overall presentation is nearly that of a matte proof. Very lovely, and very rare. I know the location of the MS 65 1872, and it has been removed from it's holder, leaving my coin as the current finest in a third party holder.