National Mint of Bolivia
The house Casa de la Moneda (Spanish mint money or house ), also Casa Real de la Moneda (Royal or Royal mint money house ) in the city of Potosí in Bolivia is a former mint, which can be visited as a museum. The Casa de la Moneda was an important center of Spanish colonial trade in South America and is now considered one of the main attractions of Potosi.
History
Because of Silver mining on the mountain Cerro Rico and the rapid growth of the Spanish colonial empire in the 16th century originated in the city need for a mint. 1542 the stamping operation was recorded in a first provisional building. The building in its present form was inspired by the Viceroy Francisco de Toledo and 1572 under the direction of architect Jerónimo de Leto near the Royal Palace at the Plaza del Regocijo (now the Plaza 10 de Noviembre ) completed within three years. At that time the Casa de la Moneda one of the largest construction projects in Spain and cost Spain 8321 pesos and a gold bar. The building is now considered one of the most important examples of Spanish colonial architecture in Latin America.
Between 1759 and 1772 the Casa de la Moneda has been extended to an extensive new building to the nearby Plaza del Gato out; until his inauguration on 31 July 1773 coin production was still held in the old building. Two years after the founding of the Republic of Bolivia ( 1825) were first minted in 1827 Republican coins in the Casa de la Moneda; the coin press remained until 1909,. From the 19th century comes El Mascaron, the mask over a passage in the courtyard of the building.
It is interpreted as a representation of the Roman god Bacchus, but often seen as an indigenous South Americans, who laughs after which the country leaving the Spaniards.
During the Chacokrieges (1932-1935) between Bolivia and Paraguay, the Casa de la Moneda served temporarily as a military headquarters of the Bolivian armed forces. Later it was used by farmers surrounding villages as stable when they drove their cattle to Potosi to the market.
Today the building is a museum housed. In addition to religious art and coins were once served by African slaves embossing machines, as well as the particularly complex secured crates are issued for the transportation of coins to Europe here mainly. In addition, paintings can be seen from the colonial and republican period, as indigenous textiles and exhibits from the time of Chacokrieges. The Casa de la Moneda is now considered as one of the most important museums in Bolivia and is an important part of the UNESCO world heritage of Potosí.
Type of coinage
The material extracted from mines were heated until liquid, and then poured into a mold made of metal. With the hammer of mostly square blank was beaten roundish. After several days of cooling time this was again heated slightly and cut with scissors into smaller blanks, then still mostly square ends of the blanks to the center of the coin were rolled back, so you got a round shape. After reheating the coin was polished with an abrasive sheet into a round shape. In yet heated state the now round coins were printed with a pre- print of the holy crown of Spain on both sides. This type of coin was not widely used at this time.