1/2 Scudo

Bolivia's fractional gold coinage of the 1830s was produced at the Potosí mint, the same facility that had been pouring out silver for Spanish colonial interests since the 1540s. By independence, Potosí was operating under severe financial and administrative strain, and the quality of its gold output during this decade reflects that instability — die workmanship was inconsistent, and assayer changes throughout the 1834–1840 window produced measurable variation in fineness despite the nominal .875 standard.

The assayer initial on the coin is the most reliable dating tool within this type.