MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean mint house chops heads for circulating 50-pesos “collection” coins

The Chiie coin (AFP)

Heads are rolling at the Chilean mint after a coin went into circulation which mangled the country's name. The 50-peso coins - worth about 6p - were issued in 2008, but no-one noticed they read “Chiie” rather than “Chile” until late last year.

Several employees are reported to have been fired over the error.

One worker, Pedro Urzúa, told Chilean newspaper El Mercurio: “I've faced accusations that the word 'Chiie' was intentional, but it was a mistake that I didn't notice - and neither did anyone in the chain of people that saw the coin and approved it afterwards.”

Other recent problems to beset the mint include a mix-up last year when a very valuable medal was sold without permission.

A director told the paper that the mint, named Casa de Moneda, needs better internal controls and improved technology.

“It's like going into a Dickensian factory,” he said.

Meanwhile the misspelled coins - which will remain in circulation - have become collector's items, with people hoarding them in the hope their value will increase”.