Peru Indian Head Gold Libra 1898

WillieBoyd2 · March 20, 2016 10:41AM

I've always wanted one of these and finally...

Peru Gold Libra 1898
22mm, 7.98gm
Manco Capac facing right
VERDAD I JUSTICIA / UNA LIBRA (Truth and Justice / One Pound)
Arms of Peru
REPUBLICA PERUANA LIMA R.OZ.F / 1898 (R.OZ.F was the mint head assayer)

Peru struck these gold coins from 1898 to 1930 as part of a monetary gold standard.
They didn't circulate much and some numismatists call them "bullion coins".

They are minted to the same specifications as the British gold Sovereign,
which makes them close to the US five dollar gold piece.

Manco Capac was the legendary founder and first emperor of the Inca dynasty.

Jackthecat1 · March 20, 2016 11:36AM

Nice coin. There was intermittent mintage of these coins and their smaller 1/2 and 1/5 siblings until 1969. I have a 1966 1/2 Libra.

SaorAlba · March 20, 2016 9:39PM

I've always thought it curious that they minted them to the sovereign weight instead of pegging them to the dollar. Like a lot of Latin American gold, they were not really minted for circulation but as a store of value. Of course looking at the very many different currencies Peru has had over the years you can see why smart people would buy these coins and hold onto them.

asheland · March 21, 2016 1:06AM

I like!

Peru Indian Head Gold Libra 1898

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