My World Crown Affair
19th Cent, Chile 8 reales

Owner Comments:

Following the volcano peso, issued during Chile's struggle for independence, the subsequent design of the silver crown of the Republic of Chile featured the Andean condor rending the links of a chain at its feet and returned to the 8 reales denomination. The condor, itself a symbol of freedom is the national bird of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador as well as Chile. These were issued from 1837-1840 and 1848-1849. My example is from 1839 the least scarce date with a mintage of 205,000. The legend "Por la Razon y la Fuerze" means "By reason and by force".