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2 Reales Type I Countermark
| Issuer | Costa Rica |
|---|---|
| Year | 1841-1842 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 2 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 |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Log in to see details |
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| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | The reverse of the host Spanish colonial 2 Reales struck at the Potosí Mint in 1822 features the crowned shield of Castile and León at center, flanked by the Pillars of Hercules with the assayer's initials and mint mark. The surrounding legend reads HISPANIAR · REX · P · 2R · O ·, identifying the issuing authority, denomination, mint (Potosí), and assayer. The coin has been cut and perforated, with a large irregular hole punched through the lower left field, partially destroying the design, as was characteristic of the Costa Rican emergency currency practice. The crowned shield retains some detail at the upper portion, while the lower elements are lost to the cut. Wear throughout is consistent with heavy circulation. |
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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.