8 Reales - Louis I 1725-1727 front 8 Reales - Louis I 1725-1727 back
8 Reales - Louis I 1725-1727 photo
© Heritage Auctions

8 Reales - Louis I

 
Silver (.917) 27.0674 g 40 mm
Description
Issuer
Bolivia
King
Louis I (1724)
Type
Standard circulation coin
Years
1725-1727
Value
8 Reales
Currency
Real (1574-1825)
Composition
Silver (.917)
Weight
27.0674 g
Diameter
40 mm
Shape
Cob
Technique
Hammered (cob)
Orientation
Variable alignment ↺
Demonetized
Yes
Updated
2024-10-04
References
Numista
N#61932
Rarity index
91%

Reverse

Crowned Heracles Pillars, over waves.
Inscriptions on three lines:
On top, face value between mintmark and essayer's initial,
at center, Spanish motto,
on bottom, year between assayer's initial and mintmark.

Columnas de Hércules coronadas, sobre olas.
Inscripciones en tres líneas:
Arriba, valor facial, entre marca de ceca e inicial del ensayador,
en medio, lema de España,
abajo, año entre inicial del ensayador y marca de ceca.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
P 8 Y
PLV SVL TRA
Y 727 P

Unabridged legend:
Potosi 8 reales Diego de Ybarbourou
PLVS VLTRA
1727

Translation:
Potosi 8 reales Diego de Ybarbourou
PLUS ULTRA (=Further Beyond)
1727

Potosi 8 reales Diego de Ybarbourou
PLUS ULTRA (=más allá)
1727

Engraver: Diego de Ybarbourou

Edge

Smooth, irregular.

Liso, irregular.

Comment

Philip V abdicated in January 1724 and his eldest son Luis I followed him on the Spanish throne. But this young king reigned only for six and half months: he died of smallpox on August 1724, and Philip V resumed the government until his dead 1746.
Despite this very short reign, owing to slow communications, 1725 coins were minted after Louis I name, and also 1726 & 1727 issues continued with same design, to honor his memory.

Felipe V abdicó en enero de 1724 en favor de su hijo Luis, que lo sucedió en el trono de España. Pero el joven rey sólo reinó por seis meses y medio: falleció debido a la viruela en agosto 1724, por lo que Felipe V retomó el reinado hasta su muerte en 1746.
A pesar de tan corto reinado, y debido a las comunicaciones lentas de la época, las monedas de 1725 fueron acuñadas a nombre de Luis I, y también las de 1726 y 1727, como homenaje a su memoria.

Interesting fact

The 8 Reales coin from Bolivia, minted between 1725 and 1727 during the reign of Louis I, has an interesting feature. Despite being made of silver (.917), it was designed with a unique "tree trunk" shape, which sets it apart from other coins of its time. This distinctive shape was likely used to prevent counterfeiting and to make the coin more easily recognizable.