Bolivia - please help identify

[@josephjk]

9.5gm, ~27mm .

Written on the coin holder... 'Macuquina 4 Reales 1765-1780' but the weight does not seem to match 4 reales coins in KM ... also there is a clear '8' on the coin - does that stand for 8 reales?

P (Potosi mint?), 77? (date? -177?)

[Figleaf]

This is a Spanish colonial coin. Bolivia had not been invented yet, if only because Simon Bolivar wasn't born yet. The date is 177x, most likely 1775 or 1776. The 1 is usually left out on this type of coin. No Spanish colonial mint was using a P mintmark at that time. Potosí used a PTS monogram. The mintmark is the G on the other side, indicating the Guatemala mint. P is the mark of assayer Felipe Sanchez de Guzman.

The 8 indicates that it was born as an 8 reales. The heavy weight loss says it was clipped to the bone, likely in the Caribbean, where there was a large shortage of coins. Pridmore reports very heavy clipping there. The hole says it was so badly clipped it was no longer accepted, so it was used as jewellery. Note how the sharp edges of metal were flattened against the coin, so that clothing would not be damaged.

Peter

[@josephjk]

Thank you very much Peter!