My World Crown Affair
19th Cent, Colombia 8 reales

Owner Comments:

The República de Colombia existed from 1819-1831. It was formed from Spanish Viceroyalty of New Granada that had included the territories of present-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama, northern Peru, western Guyana and northwest Brazil. Today, the República de Colombia is often referred to as Gran Colombia to differentiate from the official name of the modern nation of Colombia.

There were several 8 reales issues from 1819 to 1821 using the same design motif; native bust in feather headdress on obverse and pomegranate (the symbol of the Spanish province of Granada) on reverse. They show the value of 8 reales, however these were significantly debased from the Spanish standard, weighing 23 grams and only 66.6% silver.

My example is an early issue that it still bears the Spanish colonial "Nueva Granada" legend and shows "Libertad Americana" in place of a national title.