Owner Comments:
Why do the Dineros of 1900-1903 have so many overdates? The minting of small coin in Lima since 1897 had been done with matrices previously produced. Because of the falling price of silver in 1897, the coining of silver from bullion was suspended, but small coin was still needed in the country, so old matrices were used. With the new century, the numbers 189 changed to 190, thus creating a slew of overdates when the new date was punched over the old. Finally in 1904, the new dies were ready for the Dinero (1901 for the 1/5 Sol, 1907 for 1/2 Dinero). 1900 is a more common date, traceable with some looking in nice mint state. Most examples have an overdate (perhaps all). Some coins come with very crude lettering.
Krause lists myriad overdates: 1900, 1900/89, 1900/890, 1900/897, 1900/898, 1900/90, 1900/98. Flatt adds that some 1900/89 coins have a D/F in DINO (I would surmise these had the obverse dies from 1898). A large or small "O" may be found in "DINO". Flatt reports the berries in the laurel branch as 3-1-2., however they are 3-1-3. My coin has 3-1-4, the fourth berry in the center leaf, and is the only one I have seen with a fourth berry thus far. In my experience, most coins have an 898 or 890 underdate (I have not seen the other underdates listed in Krause, nor did Flatt). The "O" in DINO is usually small. I have not seen the D/F in DINO for 1900 but my associate has at least one example.
Remember that none of these overdates carries a premium, nor is it really possible to determine what the exact overdates are on many coins. Prices in the catalog should be raised to match the "common" dates of the 20th Century.
NGC has 13 1900/898: One in AU 58, one in MS 61, one in 62, two in 63, three in 64, one in 65, two in 66, one in 67, and one in 67+.
1900/890 are as follows: One in 62 at NGC, one in 63 at PCGS, one in 64 at PCGS, one in 65 at NGC.
15 total in Uncirculated. Six in Gem or better.
The set specimen features bright rolling luster on each side, with a bit of reflectivity and subtle tone on the obverse. The 1900/898 overdate is obvious except for the last 0/8, which is indistinct, and may in fact be a 0/0. Most of the contact is die scratches and die lines, as made. Berries are 3-1-4. The fourth berry is in the center leaf. Tied with one in 65 (1900/890); three better.