1834 1 Real - Colombia

This 1834 1 Real was struck on planchets recycled from melted Spanish reales, a practical reuse that helped New Granada's mint stretch its resources during early independence.

That recycling wasn't just thrift; it symbolized a break from the old regime while keeping the silver flowing. The coin bears a simple design: a radiate sun on the obverse, representing liberty, and the denomination with the mint mark on the reverse. Bogota handled the striking, as it did for most issues of the era.

We don't know the exact mintage figures; records from that period are spotty, likely due to administrative chaos. What I can say is that survivors are often well-worn from circulation, a testament to their everyday use.

Plenty of myths swirl about these coins being "cursed" or tied to Bolivar's exploits, but that's just romantic nonsense. I've seen too many to buy it.