Coins of Early Ecuador

Guayaquil, Ecuador's port city, achieved its independence from Spain on 9 October, 1820.
The former Royal Audiencia was incorporated into the Republic of Gran Colombia. Early coinage (up to 1834?) states "Ecuador en Colombia".

The Break from Gran Colombia

Historical, geographical and ethnic differences in Gran Colombia led to increasing strife and Bolivar, who was sick, resigned the Presidency in 1830. He died later that year.
On 19 & 20, May, 1830, the Departments declared themselves to be the "State of Ecuador"

portions taken from "A Numismatic History of Ecuador", by Michael Anderson.

click on the coin for a pix showing obverse &reverse

coin pix	coin history	country history
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."	"For some time everyone has complained that no money circulates in this place other than counterfeit. The green and red pesetas [a peseta is the Spanish equivalent of 2 reales] which appear to have been made of old copper which has been used for the lining of ships are those which go into and come out of the Treasury, with which employees' salaries are paid, with which the government liquidates its debts,... with which merchants settle their accounts" Correo Semanal de Guayaquil, 24 Oct, 1841. This coin is also a Moneda Feble issue.
Ecuador 2 Hills Design 4 reales, 1842, NGC-53 Daniel Sedwick Auction# 33 May 4th 2023, lot# 920
Ecuador 2 Hills Design 4 reales, 1843, NGC-55 Stack's World Collectors Choice Online Auction May 17th 2023, lot# 71350
Capped Liberty Bust 8 reales, 1846, NGC-63 ANA World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session and Signature® Auction 3135, Sep. 3rd 2026, lot# 33150	I bid on the Milennia coin in person, going to LA in 2008, but being quite frugal, didn't come close to winning it. I bid on an unc one (same 63) again in 2025 but was out bid. Finally I got this in 2026 via a phone bid. So persistence pays off? Oh, I have to add that the obverse rotation in the slab was off 15^o CW and the reverse was off ~ 17.5^oCCW. Thus basically "6h" or "standard coin rotation". It stands to reason that they'd be careful in making these.	Due to counterfeiting of the 1844 and 1845 4 Reales, a law was signed in December 1845 forbidding the local circulation of coins of "the national design". To avoid this, the new administration later in Dec. came up with a new design for the 1846 crowns to circumvent that law. The US "Liberty Capped Bust design of John Reich's, then almost current on US coinage was used. As this coin was .9027 fine silver, it was also legal tender in the US for 1 dollar, making it the only issuance of a Capped Bust silver dollar available.
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	I think I have 2 of these. Need to look for the other one...	Jose de Sucre, One of Bolivar's generals, liberated the city of Guayaquil in 1820; he is featured on these 1 sucre coins as well as many other types.
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.	..