CVC & Collectables presents the 1808 Bolivia ½ Real, struck at the Potosí Mint during the final year of King Charles IV’s reign. This tiny but historically rich silver coin features a laureate portrait of the Spanish monarch and the crowned Bourbon shield flanked by the iconic Pillars of Hercules. Certified AU 58 by NGC, this example displays exceptional luster and detail for a fractional silver coin over two centuries old.
Coin Highlights:
- Issuing Authority: Spain (Colonial Bolivia)
- Ruler: Charles IV (Carlos IV)
- Date: 1808
- Mint: Potosí, Bolivia (PTS mintmark)
- Assayers: P • J (Pedro Prudencio de Esquerrenea and likely José de Soria)
- Denomination: ½ Real
- Composition: Silver (.896 fine)
- Weight: 1.69 grams
- Diameter: 15.57 mm
- Grade: NGC AU 58
- References: KM# 69
Obverse: Legend: ·CAROLUS·IIII·DEI·GRATIA·1808 Design: Laureate bust of Charles IV facing right.
Translation: Charles IV, by the Grace of God, 1808
Reverse: Legend: ·HISPAN · ET IND · R · PTS · P · J · Design: Crowned shield of Spain between the Pillars of Hercules, representing Spanish dominion over both hemispheres.
Translation: King of Spain and the Indies. Potosí Mint. Assayers P and J.
Collectibility:
This NGC AU 58-certified coin stands out for its sharp strike and remaining mint luster — highly unusual for such a small silver piece. Its historical context, clear legends, and transitional date make it a must-have for collectors of Spanish colonial silver, Bolivian mint coinage, and late Bourbon-era artifacts. Find more alike here!
