South American Coins
Potosí & Lima • Brazilian Empire • Argentina & Chile • Peru & Bolivia • Gran Colombia
South American Coin Explorer
South American coins tell one of the biggest stories in money: the silver of Potosí and Lima financed the Spanish Empire, and the pieces of eight struck there became the world's first global currency. After independence, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and their neighbors struck handsome gold and silver of their own, and much of it still trades close to its metal value. Pick a group below to see key types, typical values, and live listings. For values across many series, see our Coin Price Guide, or start with What's My Coin Worth if you're trying to value a coin you already own.
South American Coins Value Chart
The chart below covers the gold and silver South American coins collectors see most often, from the colonial era through the 20th century. Melt values use spot prices of about $4,010 per ounce for gold and $56 per ounce for silver (October 27, 2026), so they will change with the market. Typical values are for common dates in circulated or lightly circulated condition. Colonial coins in particular sell well above melt, and scarce dates, rare mints, and high-grade certified coins bring much more.
Gold Coins
| Coin | Years | Gold Content | Melt Value | Typical Value | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish Colonial 8 Escudos | 1700s–1820s | 0.7615 oz | $3,054 | $4,000–$8,000+ | eBay → |
| Brazil 20,000 Réis (Pedro II) | 1849–1889 | 0.5286 oz | $2,120 | $2,300–$3,500 | eBay → |
| Brazil 10,000 Réis (Pedro II) | 1849–1889 | 0.2642 oz | $1,059 | $1,150–$1,800 | eBay → |
| Argentina 5 Pesos (Argentino) | 1881–1896 | 0.2333 oz | $936 | $950–$1,200 | eBay → |
| Chile 100 Pesos | 1926–1980 | 0.5885 oz | $2,360 | $2,400–$2,600 | eBay → |
| Chile 50 Pesos | 1926–1980 | 0.2943 oz | $1,180 | $1,200–$1,350 | eBay → |
| Peru 1 Libra | 1898–1969 | 0.2354 oz | $944 | $960–$1,100 | eBay → |
| Peru 100 Soles | 1950–1970 | 1.3543 oz | $5,431 | $5,450–$5,800 | eBay → |
| Colombia 5 Pesos | 1913–1930 | 0.2354 oz | $944 | $960–$1,150 | eBay → |
| Venezuela 20 Bolívares | 1879–1912 | 0.1867 oz | $749 | $780–$950 | eBay → |
Silver Coins
| Coin | Years | Silver Content | Melt Value | Typical Value | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potosí / Lima 8 Reales Cob | 1570s–1773 | 0.80 oz | $45 | $250–$1,500+ | eBay → |
| Colonial Bust 8 Reales | 1772–1825 | 0.7859 oz | $44 | $150–$600+ | eBay → |
| Brazil 2,000 Réis (Pedro II) | 1851–1889 | 0.7518 oz | $42 | $50–$250+ | eBay → |
| Chile 1 Peso (Condor) | 1853–1891 | 0.7234 oz | $41 | $50–$250+ | eBay → |
| Argentina 1 Peso (Patacón) | 1881–1883 | 0.7234 oz | $41 | $60–$300+ | eBay → |
| Peru 1 Sol | 1864–1935 | 0.7234 oz | $41 | $45–$150+ | eBay → |
| Bolivia 8 Soles | 1827–1859 | 0.7838 oz | $44 | $75–$400+ | eBay → |
| Venezuela 5 Bolívares | 1879–1936 | 0.7234 oz | $41 | $45–$200+ | eBay → |
Melt values at gold ~$4,010/oz and silver ~$56/oz (10/27/2026). Colonial silver content is approximate, since cob weights and fineness varied. Typical values are for common dates; key dates and certified high grades are worth more.
Spanish Colonial Mints & the Pieces of Eight
Silver was discovered at the Cerro Rico, or "Rich Mountain," of Potosí in present-day Bolivia in 1545. For decades it produced a huge share of the world's silver, and the Spanish Crown set up mints at Lima in 1568 and Potosí in 1572 to turn it into coins. Later mints at Bogotá, Popayán, and Santiago added gold to the output. The coins they struck, especially the 8-real "piece of eight," circulated on every continent and became the model for the U.S. dollar.
The earliest coins were cobs, or macuquinas. Workers cut chunks of silver from a bar, trimmed them to weight, and struck them by hand, so every cob has an irregular shape. After a debasement scandal at Potosí in the late 1640s, the mint adopted a new "pillars and waves" design in 1652. Lima began striking round, machine-made pillar dollars in the 1750s, and from 1772 the king's portrait appeared on the "bust" dollars that stayed in use until independence.
Gold followed the same path. The 8-escudo gold coin, often called the doubloon, was struck at Lima, Potosí, Bogotá, Popayán, and Santiago, and it remains one of the most prized coins in the Americas. Shipwreck coins add another layer, too. Silver cobs from the 1622 wreck of the Nuestra Señora de Atocha, recovered by Mel Fisher's team in 1985, carry large premiums when they come with documented provenance.
Brazil — Colonial Gold, Empire & Republic
Brazil followed a different path from its Spanish-speaking neighbors. As a Portuguese colony, it struck gold from its own mines, including the large 6,400-réis "peça" that circulated widely in the 18th century. Because Brazil declared independence in 1822 as an empire rather than a republic, its 19th-century coins carry the portraits of Emperors Pedro I and Pedro II rather than revolutionary symbols.
The gold 20,000 and 10,000 réis of Pedro II, struck from 1849 to 1889, are the most popular Brazilian gold coins. The 20,000 réis holds 0.5286 ounces of 22-carat gold, and common dates trade at a modest premium over melt. In addition, Brazil's 960-réis coins of 1810 to 1827 were struck right over Spanish 8-real pieces, and traces of the original coin often show through. That makes them a favorite with collectors of the piece of eight.
After Brazil became a republic in 1889, the mint struck gold 20,000 réis with a Liberty head until 1922. Brazilian silver is also well worth a look. For example, the large 2,000-réis coins of Pedro II and the 1900 4,000-réis coin marking 400 years since Portuguese arrival are attractive, affordable pieces of the country's history.
Argentina, Chile & Uruguay
Argentina's first national coins were struck in 1813 at Potosí, which patriot forces held at the time, and they carry the Sun of May that still appears on the Argentine flag. Decades of instability followed, so the country's first full national coinage did not arrive until 1881. That year brought the gold 5-peso "Argentino," struck to 1896, and the large silver peso known as the patacón, struck only from 1881 to 1883.
Chile's coinage goes back to the colonial Santiago mint, which opened in 1749. After independence, the silver peso with its soaring condor became a classic of 19th-century design. In the 20th century, Chile struck gold 100 and 50 pesos from 1926, and coins carrying those dates were made into the 1970s. As a result, the 100 pesos is one of the most affordable large gold coins from South America, with 0.5885 ounces of gold.
Uruguay struck relatively few coins in the 19th century, which makes its pieces especially appealing. The silver peso of 1877, for example, is a popular one-type coin, and Uruguay's early copper and later commemoratives round out a small but rewarding country set.
Peru & Bolivia
Peru kept minting at Lima after independence in 1821, and its coins changed with each government. In 1863 the country adopted the sol, and the large silver 1-sol coin with seated Liberty was struck in great numbers until the 1930s. Because so many survive, common dates are an easy and affordable way to own 19th-century South American silver.
Peru also struck gold to the British sovereign standard. The 1-libra coin, made from 1898 to 1969, holds the same 0.2354 ounces of gold as a sovereign. Later, the large 100-soles coin of 1950 to 1970 contains more than 1.35 ounces of gold, which makes it one of the heaviest gold coins struck in South America. Both trade close to melt in common dates.
Bolivia became independent in 1825 and kept the Potosí mint working. Its 8-soles silver coins with Simón Bolívar's portrait were struck from 1827 to 1859, followed by the boliviano in 1864. In particular, coins struck at Potosí connect a republican collection directly to the mountain that once supplied the Spanish Empire.
Colombia, Venezuela & Ecuador
Simón Bolívar's Gran Colombia united modern Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama from 1819 to 1831. Its 8-real silver coins from Bogotá are scarce and sought by collectors of independence history. When the union broke apart, each country developed its own coinage, though Bolívar's portrait stayed a constant theme.
Colombia struck gold at Bogotá and Medellín, and its 5-peso coin of 1913 to 1930 was made to the sovereign standard. Venezuela adopted the bolívar in 1879 and joined the same weight standard as the Latin Monetary Union. Its gold 20 bolívares, struck until 1912, holds 0.1867 ounces of gold, the same as a French 20 francs. The large silver 5 bolívares, nicknamed the "fuerte," was struck until 1936.
Ecuador's coinage is smaller but still interesting. The sucre, introduced in 1884, appeared in silver for decades, and Ecuador's gold condor coins are genuinely scarce. Still, for most collectors, Colombian and Venezuelan gold and silver are the most practical place to start in this region.
Building a South American Coin Collection
A good collection starts with a theme. For example, you could collect a piece of eight from each colonial mint, follow Brazil from colony to empire to republic, or build a set of large silver pesos and soles from every country. Each approach tells a clear story, and many republic-era coins are affordable in circulated grades.
Authentication matters more here than in most areas. Colonial cobs, early republican silver, and Brazilian gold are all reproduced, so weigh every raw coin and compare it with known examples. In addition, buy colonial gold, scarce dates, and shipwreck coins only in PCGS or NGC holders, and keep any provenance paperwork with the coin.
Finally, keep an eye on premiums. Common 20th-century gold, such as Chile's 100 pesos or Peru's libra, should sell for only a little over melt. Colonial coins, on the other hand, carry real numismatic premiums, so compare several recent sales before you buy. For a broader view of coins from around the world, see our World Coins guide.
Related Coin Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What are pieces of eight, and why do they matter?
What is a cob coin?
How can I tell if a Spanish colonial coin is real?
Why is the Potosí mint so famous?
How much is Brazilian imperial gold worth?
Is it legal to buy shipwreck coins?
What South American coins are best for beginners?
Written by coin curators at the British Museum, this atlas traces the almost 3000-year history. An excellent information source for research papers; particularly useful are the illustrations, and the organization is excellent. A superior text on numismatics.
'
