Bolivia 1861-PTS FJ 1/2 sol
This specimen was lot 32510 in Heritage sale 3064 (Chicago, April 2018), where it sold for $312. The catalog description[1] noted, "Republic 1/2 Sol 1861 PTS-FJ MS66 NGC, Potosi mint. Scarcer variety with P/T for POTOSI monogram. A fully struck and brilliant gem. Currently the single finest graded for any variety of this date." This specimen is a medio sol (nominally equal to half a Mexican real but lightweight) minted at Potosi in 1860. The obverse bust is of Simon Bolivar, liberator of South America and the namesake of Bolivia.
The Potosi mint produced standard weight half reales (1.69 g, 0.896 fine) of the colonial type until 1825. After independence, the weight was lowered to 1.5 grams (KM 93, struck 1827-29). In the 1830's and 1840's, Bolivia issued an enormous quantity of medio soles debased to .667 fine, all dated 1830 (KM 93.2a). These coins flooded South America and were denounced by Bolivia's neighbors, to no avail. Later types struck at Potosi and La Paz are also to this standard (KM 118 thru 133, struck 1853-59). The last half sol shown here, struck 1860-63, was 1.3 g, 0.903 fine silver (KM 133.2).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.3 g, 0.903 fine silver, .037 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: KM 133.2.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach and Warren Tucker, Heritage World Coin Auction 3064, featuring the Doug Robins Collection of Canadian Tokens, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.
Link to:
- 1860 ½ sol
- 1861 sol
- 1861 2 soles
- 1862 ½ sol
- Coins and currency dated 1861
- return to coins of Bolivia