Ecuador, 2 Hills Design
4 reales, 1841
Daniel Sedwick Auction
October 2011, lot# 1107
This is the Republic of Ecuador's 1st coin design.
Known as the "Two Hills Design" it was issued on 1/2 - 2 reales starting in 1833.
Due to the large number of counterfeit "Two Hills" 2 reales, their production was
halted on 11 Oct, 1841. All of the other 2 Hills minors were also discontinued. The 4 reales of this design was then authorized on Nov 2nd, 1841 to
remove them from circulation. Mintage commenced on 30 Nov and to discourage counterfeiting
the 4R's had a very crude raised lettered edge: "MORAL INDUSTRIA".
They were well received by the public and were issued 1841 thru 1843.
fineness = .666 silver, 13.3 gr.
assayer: Miguel Vergara hence the "M.V."
This coin is also a Moneda Feble issue.
Ecuador 2 Hills Design
4 reales, 1842, NGC-53
May 4th 2023, lot# 920
Ecuador 2 Hills Design
4 reales, 1843, NGC-55
May 17th 2023, lot# 71350
I believe there was also an imaginary 2 Hills 8 Reales struck, possibly in the 1960's. This was never a coin issued by early Ecuador but an imaginary issue to fill a need for an Ecuadorian crown of this type. It is usually classed as a counterfeit. Once again a photo is needed.
(none)
It includes the 1st Ecuadorian crown, an exceptionally beautiful design and issued in only 1846. 1286 (? check) pieces were struck, most of which were apparently placed in circulation. These coins circulated very slightly before being saved and are almost always found in decent condition ranging from good VF to AU. They were 90% silver and as this was the "moneda feble" era gripping South America, circulated as well as a 90% silver quarter would in change in 2012. This coin is frequently available in grades up to & including AU but true UNCs are uncommon (but exist).
It basically looks just like a US Capped Bust dollar so for those of you who wanted a Capped bust dollar this is the piece to buy.
Ecuador, 5 francs, 1858
uncirculated (NGC-65)
(called 5 francos in recent literature)
(M.L. Teller, , 2002)
A brief history about the 1858 5 Francs.
-- update coming soon
At the time between 1833 and 1858 the Ecuadorian silver coinage was debased.
Now (after the liberation from Spain) it was time to be a part of a world market of industrialized nations in exchange for
finished goods and raw material including silver coinage.
The Ecuadorian government could not even begin the process of modernization without a quantity of coins of sufficiently
high fineness to finance foreign exchange. As a result the debased silver would have to be withdrawn from circulation
and replaced with a silver crown of 0.900 fineness. So the 5 Francs 1858 crown materialized but could never be sustained
for circulation. The great mass of the poor could not make transactions without being defrauded by merchants in the market
place.
Counterfeiting existed (0.666 silver) and the import of coining machinery from the United States could not take place to replace the discredited "moneda feble", of 0.666 silver). Then disaster struck at the Quito Mint and there was not even the old machinery left to produce coinage. The 5 Francs were quickly withdrawn from circulation and counterfeit coins increased due to the lack of government issued coinage in circulation.
Do you really want to learn more about the history of Ecuadorian coinage in English? Get a copy of Michael Anderson's book "A Numismatic History of Ecuador". Excellent!!!
"business.fortunecity.com/crown/841/reportrare.html" from Chuck Helfand.
Note link no longer valid.
Un Sucre, 1890 UNC
5 Sucres, 1944, EXF
Albigini's Coin Shop, Upper Darby, PA
These were minted in 1943 and 44.
Very similar to the 1 Sucres of the 1880's and 90's but larger in size and .720 fine.