671

La Paz, Bolivia, 2 soles, 1853, Belzu / Potosi / native, struck over a 1/5 boliviano of 1865, PCGS M

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / World Coins - World (A-G) Start Price:250.00 USD Estimated At:350.00 - 700.00 USD
La Paz, Bolivia, 2 soles, 1853, Belzu / Potosi / native, struck over a 1/5 boliviano of 1865, PCGS M
By registering for our auction, you agree to the terms and conditions.
La Paz, Bolivia, 2 soles, 1853, Belzu / Potosi / native, struck over a 1/5 boliviano of 1865, PCGS MS63. Burnett-58; Fonrobert-9757. Obverse with standing native in headdress blowing horn with olive branch in left hand, llama at his feet, inside legend POTOSI TRANSMITE ALA POSTERIDAD., with llama above LA and end of horn at period; reverse with cornucopia spilling right with point on altar to left that says LIBER / TAD, all within legend ERIJIDA POR EL J.MANUEL Y. BELZU. with date 1853 at bottom; reeded edge. This is an unlisted issue comprising an 1853 La Paz die (Burnett 57, under Belzu) muled with an 1841 Potosi die (Burnett 126.1, an Ingavi issue under Ballivian), which is fascinating for its mix of mints and span across several presidencies. But the biggest discrepancy, with no good explanation, is that the La Paz side is struck over the reverse of an 1865 1/5 boliviano (Burnett 100B, see lot 711 in this auction), with visible traces of the condor's wing in the field to the right and of the olive branch on the altar. Unless the 1865 issue was struck from a proposed but unused master central design, this has to be a mint sport from that date or later. A choice piece in any case, lightly toned, turning dark in legends with bright luster to rims, minor die-cracks on obverse. (Slab label only states 1853 La Paz.) PCGS #32913681. The Whittier Collection of Bolivian Monetary Medals