PARAGUAY

The history of the coinage of Paraguay is very meager. The earliest coins of the country were copper pieces with the value of of the Medio Real or of the silver Peso (No. 3). In 1855 a coinage of silver Pesos was proposed and several patterns were produced at the mint of Paris (No. 1), but no coins were struck for circulation. In 1864 a silver Peso was issued with types composed of a seated figure of Liberty and the arms of the Republic; and subsequently the Peso with the type of a radiant star (No. 2) within a wreath was issued. Until 1870 Paraguay retained the Spanish system with a silver Peso of 8 reales, but in that year adopted the decimal system and a Peso of 100 centavos. By the law of 1903 the gold and silver coins of the Argentine Republic are made the legal currency of the country.

1. Tin. Peso fuerte, 1855. Obv. Liberty, seated facing, a star on head, a laurel branch in right hand, and pair of scales in the left hand which rests on a sword; the whole between laurel and palm branches. Rev. REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY. A lion sejant gardant before a pole surmounted by a liberty cap in a glory; across the field, below the cap, PAZ Y-JUSTICIA; in exergue, 10 Rs. Edge, plain. 38 mm.

2. AR. Peso, 1889.

Obv. REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY. A five-point star within a wreath of palm and laurel; below, 1889. Rev. A lion sejant gardant before a pole surmounted by a liberty cap in a glory; above, PAZ Y JUSTICIA; below, UN PESO 9 DOS FINO. Edge, IGUALDAD ANTE LA LEY. 38 mm.

3. 1/12 Medio real, 1845. Obv. A lion sejant gardant before a pole surmounted by a liberty cap in a glory; the

whole within a laurel wreath. Rev. REPUBLICA

DEL PARAGUAY. On a circular field azure, 1/12; below, 1845.

4. AE. 2 Centesimos, 1868. Obv. REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY. Type similar to No. 3, within a beaded circle; below, 1838. Rev. DOS | CENT | within a beaded circle; above, PAZ Y JUSTICIA; below, ★★★★★. 30 mm. 5. AE. 4 Centesimos, 1870. Obv. REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY. A star within a wreath of laurel and oak. Rev. The numeral 4 on a circular field azure, above which, CENTESIMOS on a scroll; the whole within a laurel wreath open at the bottom; between the ends of the branches of the wreath, 1870. 36 mm.

6. AE. 2 Centesimos, 1870. Similar to No. 5, but with the numeral 2 on the reverse. 25 mm.

7. AE. 1 Centesimo, 1870. Similar to No. 5, but with the numeral 1 on the reverse.

23 mm.

BRITISH GUIANA.

This British colony consists of Demerara, Essequibo, and Berbice, and was acquired from the Dutch in 1803. The first English coinage of 1809 retained the monetary system of the Dutch and pieces of 3 Guilders, 2 Guilders, the Guilder, and its Half and Quarter were struck for the colony. In 1839 this system was abolished and the American system with the Dollar and its divisions adopted, but no coins on this system were ever struck, the currency of the colony being composed chiefly of legalized silver of neighboring countries. In 1891 a Fourpence piece was struck for British Guiana and the West Indies, which was exactly equivalent to the 1/4 Stuiver or Bit.

George IV, A. D. 1803–1820.

SILVER.

1. 3 Guilders, 1809. Obv. GEORGIUS IIII DEI GRATIA. Bust of George IV, laureated, to right. Rev. COLONIES OF ESSIQUIBO & DEMARARY TOKEN. Numeral 3, with crown above, within a wreath; below, 1809. Edge, obliquely hatched. 38 mm.

2-3. 2 Guilders, 1809. Similar to No. 1, but with the numeral 2, crowned, on reverse. 34 mm.

4. 2 Guilders, 1816. Similar to No. 2, except date. 28 mm. 5. Guilder, 1809. Similar to No. 1, but with the numeral 1, crowned, on reverse. 25 mm.

6. Guilder, 1816. Similar to No. 5, except date.

7. 1/2 Guilder, 1816. Types and legends similar to No. 1, but with 1/2, crowned, on reverse. 20 mm.

8. 1/4 Guilder, 1809. Similar to No. 1, but with 1/4, crowned, 17 mm.

on reverse.

9. 1/4 Guilder, 1816. Similar to No. 8, except date.

BRONZE.

10. 1/2 Stuiver, 1815. Types and legends similar to No. 1. Edge, centrally hatched. 28 mm.

William IV, A. D. 1820-1837.

SILVER.

11–12. 3 Guilders, 1832. Obv. GULIELMUS IIII D: GBRITANNIAR: REX. F: D: Head to right. Rev. UNITED COLONY OF DEMARARY & ESSIQUIBO. Numeral 3, crowned, within a wreath; below, 1832. Edge, plain. 35 mm.

13. 2 Guilders, 1832. Similar to No. 11, but with numeral 2, crowned, on reverse. Edge, plain. 28 mm.

14. Guilder, 1832. Similar to No. 11, but with numeral 1, crowned, on reverse. Edge, plain. 23 mm.

15. 1/2 Guilder, 1835. Similar to No. 11, but with 1/2, crowned, on reverse. 19 mm.

16. 1/4 Guilder, 1835. Similar to No. 11, but with 1/4 GUILDER, crowned, on reverse. 13 mm.

Victoria, A. D. 1837-1901.

SILVER.

17. AR. 4 Pence, 1891. Obv. VICTORIA

QUEEN.

Coroneted bust to left. Rev. BRITISH GUIANA
AND WEST INDIES. Within a wreath, FOUR
PENCE, and crown above; below, 1891. 16 mm.

Edward VII, A. D. 1901–1910.

SILVER.

18. AR. 4 Pence, 1805. Obv. EDWARD VII KING AND EMPEROR. Crowned bust of the king to right. Rev. Similar to No. 17. 16 mm.

CAYENNE OR FRENCH GUIANA.

This French colony, which has been a penal colony since the latter part of the eighteenth century, has never developed to such a degree as to require a special coinage of any importance.

The first measure looking to a provision of a currency for the colony was the edict of Louis XVI, dated December 10, 1779, ordering the transfer to the colony of 30,000 livres of retired billon doubles sols of France; and the supply of such coinage being exhausted before the amount named in the edict was made up, new pieces were struck, and with the same device, a crowned letter C, as was employed for countermarking the retired 2 sols pieces; and, as in the latter case, the new pieces were stamped on one side only.

Again, in 1781 an edict issued in March made provision for a special coinage for the French Antilles, Isle de Bourbon, and for Cayenne; but the three sols pieces ordered by the colony did not come into circulation, and in 1782 a billon double sou, valued at 1/10 livre, was struck (No. 3). In 1818 Louis XVIII struck for Guyanne Française billon 10 centimes pieces, with the crowned monogram of the king on the obverse. This colony also received part of a general colonial coinage in bronze of 10 and 5 centimes pieces issued in 1825 and destined for all the French colonies. These pieces bear the effigy of Charles X. (See West Indies, French Possessions, No. 3.) These bronze pieces were heavy and were practically rejected by the colonists. More successful was the issue of billion 10 centimes pieces in 1846, which are still in circulation, coins popularly designated marqués blancs.

Louis XVI, A. D. 1774-1792.

1. Bil. Sou, undated.

Obv. Crowned C. Rev. Plain. 23 mm.

2. Bil. Sou, undated.

Similar to No. 1. 22 mm.

3. Bil. Double sou, 1782. Obv. LOUIS XVI.R.DE - FR.ET DE NAV. The three lilies, and crown above. Rev. COLONIE DE CAYENNE. Within a circle, 2 | sous | 1782 A. 22 mm.

4. Bil. Double sou, 1789. Similar to No. 3, except date. 22 mm.