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Casa Real de Moneda

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mitchww@me.com
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5 out of 5
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Casa Nacional de la Moneda

  • March 15, 2007
  • Rated 5 of 5 by SeenThat from Tel Aviv, Israel
Casa Nacional de la Moneda

Maybe the best museum in Southern Bolivia, the National Coining House is where the silver extracted from the nearby mines was transformed into coins. It is next to Potosi’s central plaza; its construction began in 1572 and the center worked until 1767 using rudimentary technologies and slaves work. In 1773, the structure we see nowadays was inaugurated on the original – albeit expanded - site; the upgrade included facilities to create high quality coins. Built of stone and brick in Baroque style is the most magnificent colonial structure in town after the main churches.

The institution did all the coining works in situ: from treating the metal and designing the coins to controlling their weight and color. Black slaves who had troubles to adapt to the work in the mines were brought here. In its first twenty-eight years, the institution coined more silver coins than there were in circulation in all the European countries combined. Coins were prepared also for other countries and territories and most countries from those days have coins from Potosi in their historic archives.

Three types of coins were prepared here for Spain. The "Macuquinas" (from the Quechua word for "hammered") were coined until 1773 using hammers to shape them; they had different values and figures on them. The "Columnarias" were more sophisticated, and included two distinctive columns that gave them their name. The "Busto" coins were coined for Spain until 1825 – the year of Bolivia’s independence – and include the face of the current king. Special medals were coined whenever a new king ascended to throne. In 1813, special coins were prepared for Argentine once it began the struggle for its independence. Afterwards, the institution continued issuing coins for the new Republic of Bolivia, including gold and copper coins.

The machinery was renewed in the 19th century with American steam machines. In the twentieth century, electric machines were brought and finally in 1953, after the mines were nationalized, the institution ceased to work.

In 1930 part of the structure was transformed into an art museum, which included works collected from the Municipal Museum and different churches. Divided into several collections, it includes paintings, coins, coining machinery, weights, sculptures, minerals and archeology. On the second floor of the second yard is the Colonial Salon, where a painting of the Sacred Family by Pieter de Coecke, dating back to the sixteenth century, rest in appropriate splendor. Other splendid paintings share the space. The museum has a massive archive encompassing the whole history of the place and the area.

The most striking feature in the structure is the mask of a Quechua man hanging on an arch visible from the main entrance. Resembling a caricature, it has high cheeks, slanted highs, a strong nose and straight, black hair. Its huge, mocking smile is unforgettable. It is not known whom it depicts, but it had become a symbol of the institution and of Potosi; it appears in many official publications.

Tours in English are available for groups; photographing is not allowed.

From journal The Silver Memories of Potosi

Casa Real de Moneda

  • September 10, 2000
  • Rated 4 of 5 by mitchww@me.com from Chicago, Illinois
The Casa Real was the Royal Mint used by the Spanish colonizers to turn the silver from Cerro Rico into coins to be shipped back to Spain. it has been wonderfully restored. The musem alone could justify a visit to Potosi.

The museum boasts a wide variety of coins and coin stamps. Also, visitors can see the restored presses including hand powered minting machines. A room containing religous paintings, many done by indigenous Andeans was our introduction to the history of the region.

From journal The Highest City in the World

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