Coin
½ Real - Charles III (1760) — Colombia
Colombia • 1760 • KM#A45, Hernández#65, Restrepo#30.1
Overview
Silver ½ Real coin from Colombia issued under King Charles III.
Specifications
- Country
- Colombia
- Year
- 1760
- Composition
- Silver (.903)
- Weight
- 1.69 g
- Mint
- Bogota Mint (Casa de Moneda de Bogotá)
- Mintmark
- NR
- Shape
- Round
- Technique
- Milled
- References
- KM#A45, Hernández#65, Restrepo#30.1
- Issuer
- Colombia
Design details
Obverse
Crowned shield surrounded with legend and assayer's initial (JV)
Reverse
Crowned globes flanked by crowned pillars with banner, surrounded with legend. Date below flanked by mint mark.
Collector insights
- Series context: Part of the Standard circulation coins series — collectors typically assemble full-year date runs, so single years within an established series carry demand beyond raw mintage.
- Struck at: Bogota Mint (Casa de Moneda de Bogotá) (mintmark
NR). Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels. - Precious metal content: Silver (.903) — bullion value provides a price floor, and many circulated examples were melted during the 1979–1980 and post-2010 silver spikes, reducing the surviving population.
- Catalogue reference: Listed as
KM#A45, Hernández#65, Restrepo#30.1. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.
Curator Insights
Historical context
This silver half real was struck during the first full year of the reign of Charles III of Spain, who ascended the throne in 1759. At this time, the Mint of Santa Fe de Bogota was a critical outpost for the Spanish Crown, converting local silver extraction into currency for the New Kingdom of Granada. The 1760 issue represents the 'Columnarios' type, a design standard used to stabilize colonial commerce under the Spanish monetary system.
Design heritage
The obverse features a crowned Spanish coat of arms flanked by the assayer's initial JV, identifying the mint officials responsible for the 0.903 silver purity. The reverse depicts the Pillars of Hercules entwining ribbons with the motto PLUS ULTRA, signifying Spain's reach beyond the Mediterranean. Between the pillars are two crowned globes representing the Old and New Worlds, reflecting the global dominance of the Spanish Empire during the mid-18th century.
Varieties and technical notes
This denomination was produced using the milling technique which resulted in a more uniform round shape compared to earlier hand-struck cobs. Collectors should verify the Bogota mint mark and the JV assayer marks for authenticity. Slight variations in die alignment are common for this period, and collectors typically look for the crispness of the crown details on both the shield and the globes.
Survival and modern availability
Total mintage figures for this specific year are not documented, though Bogotá issues generally had lower production volumes than the major mints in Mexico City or Potosí. Many examples were lost to heavy circulation as fractional currency or were melted down during subsequent currency reforms in Colombia's transition to independence. High-grade specimens showing the full details of the banner and pillar motifs are scarce and highly valued by colonial Latin American specialists.
Related pieces
Explore more
Browse more items in the full catalog or view Colombia in the country guide.