Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-12-06
IL COMERCIO, Lima.-The COL
lecting Of Peruvian coins is g.
sufficiently interesting pastime,

TL COMERCIO, Lima.-The col
- lecting Of Peruvian coins is q
sufficiently interesting pastime,
IL albeit, in these days, an expen-
sive one. The hobby provides,
of course, an acquaintance with two
very different periods, the Colonial and
the present. The periods might be
further divided into many other numis-
matte eras, but these two grand di-
visions may be said to include, roughly
first, all the coins n1inted before the
foundation Of the republic, and, second
the modern period. comprising mintages
since 1921 Difficult of acquisition as
are the coins of the earlier period, those
of the last hundred years. including
even the issues of the past decade, are
hardly more accessible for the majority
of people, and so. unfortunately, collect
| lecting these pieces Of stamped metal
Is not pursuit which has a very large
clientele.
We all have. however, an opportunity,
to contemplate and talk about the as
sentiments which do exist. And it is
both agreeable and educational to trace
the history of our country through
these pretty discs of gold and silver,
most of them truly works of art.
The first coins struck in Peru bore
the date of 1888. These were rather
heavy, irregular chunks of silver bearing
on the diverse a cross of four equal
arms, the emblem of La Orden de
Cristo," with the inscription around the
edge, "Carolus de Hispania Rex" On
| the reverse appeared Lima, FL Peru"
and the date. Smaller coins, bearing the
same insignia, were issued during the
epoch of GonZalo Pizarro. These were
also Of silver.
Thirty years later Philip II ratified
the first laws governing American COIN
age. The date Of this decree was Au-
gust 81, 1865, and the initial coins under
this authorization showed the columns
OF Hercules and between them the words
Plus Ultra" Above this legend was a
p, II the money was intended for use
in Peru, and an m" If designed for
circulation in Mexico. Below, figures
indicated the value in reales Spanish
currency unit. On the reverse side ap-
| peared coat of arms, the initial "R" for
the royal aSsayer, Don Alfonso Rincon,
and on the circumference "Philipus H.
These coins were. marked variously 8
and reales, and have individual char
acteristics of different dies. At this
| time Spanish money was also used
largely in PERI, including doubloons,
crowns and pieces of 90" all of
them minted from gold, and requiring
an unlimited coinage of. Peruvian silver
pieces to preserve any sort of balance
and interchange.
BY means of these heterogeneous
mediums trade was transacted more or
less conveniently until 1886, when
Carlos II authorized an entire new
coinage of uniform and distinctive type.
These were largely superseded in 1928
and 1747 by new coins bearing bustS,
| TeSnPEflVnIU nj Ealtna W 10
vi, with new values and appropriate
inscriptions. These were largely in use,
with occasional additions Of other mon
archs, until the republic revised its
monetary system, and began to mint its
own money in 1925. $1,000.
-. The subject is an entertaining one,
though necessarily restricted in vogue.
But specimens of every issue exist in
the collections that have been as
sembled in Peru, and can be seen by
any apprentice antiquarians.