Bolivia 1865-FP melgarejo

from the Mountain Groan Collection

This one year type was issued in 1865 in honor of the dictator Mariano Melgarejo (1820-71, president of Bolivia 1864-71), along with a half melgarejo and quarter melgarejo. Melgarejo obtained his office by murdering his predecessor, Manuel Belzu, and was himself overthrown in a coup and later assassinated, which event occasioned little grief among Bolivians. Nominally equal to an eight soles of 1859-63, the melgarejo's lower fineness made it worth about six soles.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 20 g, 0.666 fine silver, .428 troy oz ASW.

Catalog reference: KM 146.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.

Link to:

• 1851 8 soles
• 1863 2 soles
• 1865 1/5 boliviano
• 1865 ¼ melgarejo
• 1865 ½ melgarejo
• 1865 boliviano
• 1879 20 centavos "Daza"
• Coins and currency dated 1865
• return to coins of Bolivia