4 Centesimos Pattern

Reverse

Value in Wreath

Script: Latin

Lettering:
CENTESIMOS
4
A
TASSET

Comment

Essais in gold exist for both series, obviously struck for presentation purposes, either as gifts for the Uruguayan dignitaries (who still had to inspect the struck coins as deem them acceptable) or the concessionaires themselves after the contracts had been agreed. Unsurprisingly, these are extremely rare, with only two sets of each series confirmed

Coins with face values 1, 2 and 4 cents, dated Uruguay 1869, with mintmark letter A were minted at Paris Mint on 1869.
Later, 1, 2 and 4 cents Uruguayan coins dated 1869, with mint letter H and Paraguay dated 1870 (with same face values, material and dimensions) were minted on 1870, Uruguay used the creation law year on the coins (same as the previous issue), and Paraguay the minting year.
On the second order, for both countries, the contractor was the company Shaw Hnos. & Co. (Shaw brothers), placed at Montevideo.

The catalog “The Mint, Birmingham, Limited, formerly Ralph Heaton & Sons” shows the coins minted for about 39 countries. On page 42, it shows copy of the letter received from Shaw (signed as “Chas. J. Shaw= Charles J. Shaw), about the coins. This letter confirms the “H” 1869 coins of Uruguay were minted by Heaton, and also explains why Uruguayan and Uruguayan coins look so similar, and also that “SHAW” showing on Paraguayan coins is not the engraver, as some people thinks, but the contractor of the mintage.
Some authors considered these coins as minted at La Rochelle, France, that also used the “H” letter as mintmark, and it is mentioned at Heritage Auctions on their list for September 15th., 2015 auction# 3042; maybe cause the previous lot was minted at Paris.

Interesting fact