Río de la Plata Coin List
The numismatics of the Río de la Plata during the colonial and early independence period offer a fascinating window into the history of the region. Coins minted at this time reflect the political, economic and social changes experienced by the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, later Argentina, in its transition from Spanish colony to independent nation.
Colonial and Transitional Coins
During the colonial period, the coins used in the Río de la Plata came mainly from the mints of Potosí and Lima. These pieces, known as "macuquinas", were irregular in shape and bore the Spanish coat of arms and the cross of Jerusalem. With the creation of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata in 1776, the Potosí Mint was established as the main mint for the region. After the May Revolution of 1810, the first patriotic coins initially maintained the Spanish design, but replaced the royal insignia with the Coat of Arms of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata. This transitional period saw the simultaneous circulation of colonial and patriotic coins, reflecting the complex political reality of the time.
Coins of independence and national consolidation
With the formal declaration of independence in 1816, a new era in River Plate numismatics began. The United Provinces began to issue coins that reflected their new national identity, although production was initially limited and varied due to political and economic instability. The Potosí mint continued to be crucial, now under patriot control, producing coins with revolutionary designs such as the Sol de Mayo and independence slogans. As the 19th century progressed, the consolidation of the Argentine state was reflected in greater monetary uniformity. The creation of the Buenos Aires Mint in 1881 marked an important milestone, centralizing minting and establishing the peso as the national monetary unit. These coins not only served as a medium of exchange, but also acted as powerful symbols of sovereignty and national unity in a period of formation and consolidation of the Argentine State.
The most valuable and popular coins
The most valuable Río de la Plata coins and sought after by collectors according to Foronum statistics are the following:
The valuation of these coins list has been achieved through a meticulous algorithm that considers the current market, taking into account aspects such as material, weight, diameter, edge, year of mintage, mint of manufacture and the number of coins produced. Coins with limited mintages and in good condition are usually among the most valuable.
Old coins of Argentina-Provinces
To facilitate their classification, we have decided to organise the coins according to their historical period, you can consult the coins by historical numismatic categories of Argentina-Provinces.
Catamarca Tierra del Fuego Argentine Confederation Mendoza Buenos Aires Córdoba Entre Rios La Rioja Río de la Plata Salta Santiago del Estero TucumánCoin Catalog
Argentina-Provincias | 4 reales
Argentina-Provincias | 1 escudo
Argentina-Provincias | 2 escudos
Argentina-Provincias | 8 reales
Other resources to find coins and banknotes of Argentina-Provinces
Can't find what you are looking for? Take a look at our coin finder and speed up your searches within the collections of all collectors, or if you prefer you can search directly in the list of coin collectors and access their profile to see their collections.