La Rioja 1854-B 1/2 real

from the Mountain Groan Collection

This specimen is one of a series struck in 1854 at the mint of the province of La Rioja in Argentina. Its major source of raw materials for coinage is known as the Famatina mountain range and valley. Four types are listed for 1854 (KM 22, 23, 24 and 25), varying in their obverse and reverse legends. This is a common type. The early years of independence were torn by struggles between the centralists in Buenos Aires and regionalists in La Rioja, Cordoba, Salta and elsewhere who even issued their own coinage.

Recorded mintage: 118,800, estimated.

Specification: silver, probably debased due to the precarious financial situation of the country at the time.

Catalog reference: KM 24 (filed under La Rioja).

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• Cunietti-Ferrando, Arnaldo José, Monedas de la República Argentina, Asociación Numismática Argentina, Buenos Aires, 1965.
• Janson, Hector Carlos, La Moneda Circulante En El Territorio Argentino, 1767-1998, Buenos Aires, 1998.
• Ferrari, Jorge N., Amonedación de la Rioja, 1838-1860, Vol. II, Buenos Aires, 1964.

Link to:

• La Rioja 1838-R 8 reales
• La Rioja 1838-R 8 escudos
• Cordoba 1839 ¼ real
• La Rioja 1839-R 8 reales
• La Rioja 1840-R 8 reales KM 10
• Argentina 1854 centavo
• Buenos Aires 1856 2 reales
• 1860 ½ real
• Coins and currency dated 1854
• return to Argentina or Argentina, La Rioja