Heritage World Coin Auctions
CICF Signature Sale 3032 10-12 April 2014
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Bolivia
Republic silver Proof Boliviano 1884, Potosi mint, KM160.3, PR61 NGC. A very attractive piece with gorgeous toning, and a strong strike as is to be expected for a Proof or Presentation piece. After several failed attempts, the problem recalling the circulating moneda feble (debased coinage) was seriously dealt with by the decree of November 25, 1874. This decree allowed an 8% tolerance in the weight of the silver full-fineness minor denominations up to 20 Centavos (minted to recall the moneda feble): naturally, the minting of these minor denominations was henceforth preferred to that of the Medio Boliviano (50 Centavos) and particularly the 1 Boliviano coins, which constituted moneda fuerte. Albeit moneda fuerte was again issued in 1877, 1879 and 1882, the mintage of Bolivianos was interrupted between 1879 and 1884, as accounted for in contemporary documentation which indicates that minor denominations were piled up in counters while 1 Boliviano coins were either exported to Argentina or kept as curiosity pieces in Bolivia since hardly ever seen! The main problem was that the 40 Hp steam press that had been brought by Torretti was ill-suited to issue large-diameter coinage. As a result, the Boliviano issues of 1884, 1887 and 1893 are all very rare, and essentially constitute presentation pieces: a law of September 6, 1883, authorized 200,000 pesos towards the acquisition of new minting equipment which could be operated by electrical or hydraulic means (thus a few 1884 presentation 1 Boliviano pieces were made), while in 1887, American engineer Arthur Wendt presented a project to obtain the concession for the mint's operation in exchange of providing it with a press "of up to 60 Hp if required". By 1893, the 60hp was acquired, and 1 Boliviano coins (the last in the series of Bolivian full weight crowns) were issued in limited quantities. A rare and historical issue, extremely rare and long praised as a classic rarity in the Bolivian series.
Estimate: 3000-3500 USD
Republic silver Proof Boliviano 1884, Potosi mint, KM160.3, PR61 NGC. A very attractive piece with gorgeous toning, and a strong strike as is to be expected for a Proof or Presentation piece. After several failed attempts, the problem recalling the circulating moneda feble (debased coinage) was seriously dealt with by the decree of November 25, 1874. This decree allowed an 8% tolerance in the weight of the silver full-fineness minor denominations up to 20 Centavos (minted to recall the moneda feble): naturally, the minting of these minor denominations was henceforth preferred to that of the Medio Boliviano (50 Centavos) and particularly the 1 Boliviano coins, which constituted moneda fuerte. Albeit moneda fuerte was again issued in 1877, 1879 and 1882, the mintage of Bolivianos was interrupted between 1879 and 1884, as accounted for in contemporary documentation which indicates that minor denominations were piled up in counters while 1 Boliviano coins were either exported to Argentina or kept as curiosity pieces in Bolivia since hardly ever seen! The main problem was that the 40 Hp steam press that had been brought by Torretti was ill-suited to issue large-diameter coinage. As a result, the Boliviano issues of 1884, 1887 and 1893 are all very rare, and essentially constitute presentation pieces: a law of September 6, 1883, authorized 200,000 pesos towards the acquisition of new minting equipment which could be operated by electrical or hydraulic means (thus a few 1884 presentation 1 Boliviano pieces were made), while in 1887, American engineer Arthur Wendt presented a project to obtain the concession for the mint's operation in exchange of providing it with a press "of up to 60 Hp if required". By 1893, the 60hp was acquired, and 1 Boliviano coins (the last in the series of Bolivian full weight crowns) were issued in limited quantities. A rare and historical issue, extremely rare and long praised as a classic rarity in the Bolivian series.
Estimate: 3000-3500 USD