2 Maravedis - Philip V Countermarked, dog

The Canary Islands operated under a chronic small-change shortage throughout the eighteenth century, and Madrid showed little urgency in addressing it. The local solution was to counterstamp existing copper — in this case, Philip V maravedis — and recirculate them at adjusted values. The dog counterstamp is specific to the islands' own validating authority, distinguishing locally sanctioned pieces from uninspected imports. The date range spans two reigns, meaning the host coins themselves can vary considerably in their original issue.