Katalog
| Emittent | Barbados |
|---|---|
| Jahr | 1718 |
| Typ | Emergency coin |
| Nennwert | 2 Bits (3⁄40) |
| Währung | Pound sterling (1627-1970) |
| Material | Silver (.833) |
| Gewicht | 5.55 g |
| Durchmesser | |
| Dicke | |
| Form | Round |
| Prägetechnik | Countermarked |
| Ausrichtung | |
| Stempelschneider | |
| Im Umlauf bis | |
| Referenz(en) |
| Aversbeschreibung | Countermarked Spanish 2 Réales displaying lions and castles. |
|---|---|
| Aversschrift | Latin |
| Averslegende | I |
| Reversbeschreibung | Spanish 2 Réales displaying coat of arms. |
| Reversschrift | Latin |
| Reverslegende | |
| Rand | |
| Prägestätte | |
| Auflage |
1718 - - |
| Numisquare-ID | 4286052450 |
| Zusätzliche Informationen |
Historical Context: The 1718 Barbados 2 Bit Countermark emerged under King George I, amidst acute currency shortage in British West Indies colonies. Barbados, a vital sugar producer, urgently required coinage for trade. Lacking a mint, the island utilized diverse foreign silver, predominantly Spanish-American reales. This '2 Bit' countermark was a crucial government initiative, validating foreign coins for local circulation, assigning a fixed value, and preventing their export, thus stabilizing the colonial economy.
Artistry: The 'artistry' of this countermark is purely functional; no specific engraver is attributed. The punch was a utilitarian tool. Its design typically features a simple numerical '2' or 'II,' often with an