Catalog
8 Reales Type V Counterstamp
| Issuer | Casa Nacional de Moneda de Costa Rica |
|---|---|
| Year | 1846 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 8 Reales |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Circular counterstamp depicting a tree dividing the denomination indication, enclosed within a beaded circle, with the outer legend identifying the issuing authority and monetary officer. A secondary small circular stamp bearing the numeral 8 is also present, confirming the face value. The legend HABILITADA EN COSTA RICA J.B. signifies official validation by Juan Barth, and the inscriptions 2 R and 8 indicate the original and restamped denominations respectively. |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | HABILITADA EN COSTA RICA J.B. 2 R 8 (Translation: Enabled in Costa Rica Juan Barth 2 Reales 8 Reales) |
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| Additional information |
Costa Rica's provisional coinage problem in the 1840s was blunt: the young republic lacked a functioning mint capable of striking full silver coinage, so it relied on counterstamping foreign 8 reales — primarily Central American federation issues and Spanish colonial pieces — to validate them as domestic currency. The Type V punch, applied at the Casa de Moneda in San José, is distinguished from earlier types by specific die characteristics that specialists use to sequence the counterstamp program.
KM#58 hosts represent whatever host coin was available, meaning no two pieces are strictly identical. The 1846 date reflects the year of application, not the host.