Coins of Colombia
Colombia at the time of the Wars of Independence
Coins issued before machine or steam press coinage
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 Colombia, Cudinamarca, 8 reales, 1820 extremely fine (Sedwick Auction #15, May 2nd, 2014 lot# 1259) |
Cudinamarca 8 Reales dated from 1819 were supposedly struck in .600 (or .666?) fine silver.
Issues from 1820 were made with a mint mark & a non mint mark variety. For those issues with mint mark,
the silver content supposedly declined to .300 fine. Pieces dated 1821 were supposedly struck from 1821 to 1828. However my personal recollection is that pieces dated 1820 are among the most common so this would argue for this date being also widely issued. This piece is similar to the rarer types with the legend "New Granada" reverse. No mark of finess is present and these pieces may have started the currency crisis know as "moneda feeble" in Northern, South America. Due to the low finess, they were not suitable for export specie and these pieces circulated extensively in South America. High grade specimens are scarce. Even the Brazilians knew better than to use these as blanks for their 960 reis, although some privately made overstrikes may exist? |
Cudinamarca was the largest of the 3 Departments of Gran Colombia at this time. It had existed as a free & independent State since Independence from Spain in 1810 until Bolivar dictated that it join the United Provinces in 1814. In 1815 a large Spanish Force restored it to Spanish Colonial rule. In 1820 it became free again. |
 Colombia, 8 escudos, 1828 uncirculated (Spinks: London) |
Colombia underwent many name changes and changes in territory. At the time this coin was issued it was Gran Colombia which broke up in 1830 forming New Granada (Colombia), Ecuador, & Venezuela. | |
 Early Republic: New Granada, 16 Pesos, 1838 almost uncirculated (XXXX Auction, Paris, 2004) |
I also have a fully ms one of these, an 1845 or 46 Popyan bought from M.L. Teller. Also a ms silver dollar (8R) issued around the same time, bought from the above dealer at the New York International (NYICS) coin show. |
 Colombia, 8 reales, 1846 nice uncirculated (M.L. Teller, New York) |
8 reales shield type This piece has the Spanish Colonial edge design: eg a series of boxes or rectangles |
Colombia underwent many name changes and changes in territory. At the time this coin was issued it was Gran Colombia which broke up in 1830 forming New Granada (Colombia), Ecuador, & Venezuela. |
 10 Reales, 1847 uncirculated (Heritage Auction, The Whittier collection, 2006) |
I can't believe they changed that nice design less than a year later! Possibly they wanted
a design change as the new demonimation is 10 reals instead of 8 reales. This coin was slabbed at the 61 level due to the weak reverse strike. I think I bought another one of these from the Sedwicks sometime which was better struck? |
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 2 Reales, 1849 Bogota choice uncirculated () |
Here is the 2 reales of the same design. This cost me all of $79 or maybe it was $149? I can't really recall which but I was happy to get it. |
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