This is the Worldwide Numismatics Website!
This is a modest collection of second millennium gold coins
Click the thumbnail picture to see a larger version of the picture, then use your browser BACK button to return to the original page you were viewing.
BOLIVIA
Parts of Bolivia, a
land-locked mountainous area in central South America, were under the Incan
Empire until the Spanish arrived in the early 16th century A.D.
They named the area Alto Peru, as a dependency
of the Viceroyalty of Peru. In 1776 it was transferred to the newly formed
Viceroyalty of La Plata.
In 1544, they discovered the vast silver deposits and founded Potosi as a
mining and minting centre of New Spain. Independence was declared in 1825 by an assembly which met in Chuqisaca
(now Sucre). General Antonio Jose de Sucre, who commanded Colombian troops,
played a leading role in the defeat of the Spanish garrison, and was elected as
the first president. The following year a constitution was drawn up by Simon
Bolivar and adopted. It was then that the country adopted the name of Bolivia.
Several wars were fought with neighboring countries, Peru and Chile.
The country had a tumultuous history throughout most of its existence. In
1952 a revolutionary party (Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario - MNR) seized
control of the government. This led to the expropriation of the mines by the
state and to agrarian reform, by which the large estates were divided among
former tenants and peasants. Before it was deposed by the army in 1964, the MNR
introduced far-reaching economic and social changes. Over the next 25 years
(1964-1989) Bolivia has 19 presidents (13 were generals), with only two
completing a full term in office.
The first coins were minted by the Spaniards at the Potosi mint during the Reign of Philip II (1556-1598). This mintmark is a monogram for the letters PTS and the coinage was very extensive. Spanish colonial coins were minted through 1825. Republican coinage was issued starting in 1827.
8 Escudo - 1838-SLP
KM-99
- 27,0 g
Edge - Reeded
This coin 's obverse features a bust of Simon
Bolivar (b1783-d1830) surrounded by the Spanish legend LIBRE POR LA CONSTITUTION (Free
by the Constitution) and BOLIVAR at the bottom. The reverse has a Bolivian
scene of the sun, a llama, mountains, a sheaf of wheat, and a sprig. The Spanish legend
REPUBLICA BOLIVIANA is around the top. The mintmark (a monogram of SLP), the
denomination 8 S, the date 1839, and the assayers' mark L.M (for Luis de Aguilar
and Diego Miguel Lopez).
BOTSWANA
Botswana is a southern African republic that was formerly known as Bechuanaland, a British colony, until independence in 1966.
Gold coinage is struck at the Swiss Federal Mint in Berne.
10 Thebe - 1966
KM-002
- 11,290 g
Mintage - 5.100
This coin commemorates the attainment of independence. The obverse features a bust of President Seretse Khama (b1921-d1980) the first chief of State. The reverse has the national arms with the mintmark B (for the Berne, Switzerland mint). The lened INDEPENDENCE 30 SEPTEMBER 1966 is around the top half of the arms. At the bottom is the denomination 10 THEBE.
BRAZIL
Brazil was discovered
by the Portuguese led by Admiral Pedro Alvares
Cabral, who began the colonial period in 1500.
The first settlement was established in 1532. The Dutch established
settlements in the early 17th century A.D.
They founded the WIC
(West Indische Compagnie) in 1621 and were
successful in establishing a foothold in Brazil and called it Nieuw Holland. The
Portuguese resisted these attempts at Dutch colonization and finally expelled
them in from their last stronghold Recife in 1654. In
1807, as Napoleon Bonaparte closed in on Portugal's capital city of Lisbon, the
Prince Regent Dom Joćo transferred his seat of government to Rio de Janeiro. In
1821 Dom Joćo returned to Lisbon, and he left his son Dom Pedro I
in charge of Brazil. When Dom Joćo attempted the following year to return
Brazil to subordinate status as a colony, his son Dom Pedro I declared the
country's independence from Portugal and set himself up as emperor.
In 1889, the military revolted, Dom Pedro II abdicated and fled Brazil,
and a republic was established.
Brazilian coinage began with the counterstamping of Portuguese coins in the early 17th century A.D. Coins were struck at Brazilian mints starting in the late 1600s. The Dutch issued gold coinage at Pernambuco in 1645-6 and these pieces are very rare.
20.000 Reis - 1851
KM-461
- 17,93 g
Mintage - 0,303M
The obverse features a bust of Emperor Dom
Pedro II (b1825-d1891) with the Latin inscription for PETRVS II. D.G.G.IMP. ET
PREP. BRAS.DEF (PETER II BY GRACE OF GOD CONSTITUTIONAL EMPEROR
AND PERPETUAL DEFENDER OF BRAZIL) around the bust and the date 1851 below the
bust. Dom Pedro was banished in 1889 after the fall of the Empire and he spent
his remaining days living in France. The reverse has the royal coat of arms with the Latin motto above meaning
IN HOC S. VINCES (IN THIS SIGN YOU WILL CONQUER) at the top. Peter was the last emperor of Brazil as Brazil
declared itself a republic in 1889.
There are more Brazilian gold coins in this section if you are interested - Page Brazil 1
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
Arawak Indians settled the British Virgin Islands around 100 BC, migrating from the Orinoco Basin in South America. A peaceloving tribe, they were hounded out by the more aggressive Caribs, who arrived from South America in the mid-15th century. It was only a few decades later that Columbus named the islands Las Vķrgenes in a somewhat obscure reference to St Ursula and her 11,000 virgins. The Spanish settled only to mine copper on Virgin Gorda in the early 17th century. The Europeans were harassed by Caribs and by pirates who attacked galleons carrying riches back to Spain. An assortment of colorful characters sailed through the surrounding waters, including pirates Henry Morgan, Sir John Hawkins and Blackbeard, and English sea dog Sir Francis Drake. As Spain declined as a colonial power, ownership of the islands shifted about until the Dutch established a permanent settlement on Tortola in 1648. The English ousted the Dutch from Tortola in 1672, and from Anegada and Virgin Gorda in 1680. In 1917, the United States purchased the adjacent Danish West Indies (US Virgin Islands) as a strategic outpost in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, farming spurred economic growth and plodding social reform on the British Virgin Islands, prompting moves toward self government. In 1967, islanders were finally given the right to administer their own affairs.
100 Dollars - 197
KM-008
- 7,10 g
Edge - Reeded
Mintage - 0,023M
This NCLT "coin" was issued to commemorate the Queen's 50th birthday. The obverse has the Machin bust of the Queen (b1926) with her royal title ELIZABETH THE SECOND to the left and the country's name BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS to the right. The date 1975 is at the bottom. The reverse has a tern in flight with the denomination 100 DOLLARS around the bottom.. The Franklin Mint mintmark and the fineness 900/1000 FINE GOLD is under the bird.
BRAUNSCHWEIG-LUNEBERG
5 Thaler - 1814
KM-101
- 6,65 g
Edge - Engrailed
Mintage - Unknown
The obverse of this coin features the British royal arms with the duchy's arms superimposed on the centre within the Order of the Garter. The Latin legend GEORGIVS III -D-G-BRITTANIARVM REX-F-D (George III By Grace of God King of the Britons Defender of the Faith) circles the arms. The reverse has the denomination V THALER, the date 1814, and the mintmaster's initials T.W. in the centre with the regent's title in Latin BRVNSVICENS ET LVNEBVRG DUX-S-R-I-A-T-ET-E around the periphery. In 1837 it was renamed the Kingdom of Hannover after the capital city.
If you would like to see additional gold coins, please click here - Page 5
If you want to return to the home page, please click here - Home