Catálogo
| Emissor | Barbados |
|---|---|
| Ano | 1718 |
| Tipo | Emergency coin |
| Valor | 2 Bits (3⁄40) |
| Moeda | Pound sterling (1627-1970) |
| Composição | Silver (.833) |
| Peso | 5.55 g |
| Diâmetro | |
| Espessura | |
| Formato | Round |
| Técnica | Countermarked |
| Orientação | |
| Gravador(es) | |
| Em circulação até | |
| Referência(s) |
| Descrição do anverso | Countermarked Spanish 2 Réales displaying lions and castles. |
|---|---|
| Escrita do anverso | Latin |
| Legenda do anverso | I |
| Descrição do reverso | Spanish 2 Réales displaying coat of arms. |
| Escrita do reverso | Latin |
| Legenda do reverso | |
| Bordo | |
| Casa da moeda | |
| Tiragem |
1718 - - |
| ID Numisquare | 4286052450 |
| Informações adicionais |
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