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2 Reales Type I Countermark
| Issuer | Costa Rica |
|---|---|
| Year | 1841-1842 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | KM# 19.1 |
| Obverse description | The obverse displays the host coin's laureate bust of Ferdinand VII of Spain facing right, with the surrounding legend partially visible reading FERDND · 7 · D · G · ET · CONST and the date 1822 in the exergue. A prominent circular Costa Rican Type I countermark is applied at center, consisting of a small rose or floral motif within a beaded or toothed circular punch, confirming the coin's authorization for local circulation. The host coin has been cut and holed, reflecting its use as an emergency currency piece; two additional holes are visible in the field, likely the result of the cutting process used to reduce the coin's weight or denomination. The overall surfaces show significant wear consistent with extended circulation, with the legend and bust detail partially obliterated. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
In 1841–1842, Costa Rica lacked the infrastructure to mint its own coinage at scale and instead applied a countermark to circulating Spanish colonial 2 reales pieces to officially validate them for domestic use. The KM# 19.1 countermark — a small crowned arms punch — was struck by hand, meaning placement and depth vary considerably from coin to coin. A poorly centered or weakly applied punch was enough to render a piece commercially suspect, and contemporary accounts note ongoing disputes over whether faintly marked coins were legally tender.