Catalogo
| Emittente | Barbados |
|---|---|
| Anno | 1718 |
| Tipo | Emergency coin |
| Valore | 2 Bits (3⁄40) |
| Valuta | Pound sterling (1627-1970) |
| Composizione | Silver (.833) |
| Peso | 5.55 g |
| Diametro | |
| Spessore | |
| Forma | Round |
| Tecnica | Countermarked |
| Orientamento | |
| Incisore/i | |
| In circolazione fino al | |
| Riferimento/i |
| Descrizione del dritto | Countermarked Spanish 2 Réales displaying lions and castles. |
|---|---|
| Scrittura del dritto | Latin |
| Legenda del dritto | I |
| Descrizione del rovescio | Spanish 2 Réales displaying coat of arms. |
| Scrittura del rovescio | Latin |
| Legenda del rovescio | |
| Bordo | |
| Zecca | |
| Tiratura |
1718 - - |
| ID Numisquare | 4286052450 |
| Informazioni aggiuntive |
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