Argentina: Gold Coins; An Overview

Posted by Stephen Halkovic on September 6, 2012

1887 Argentina 5 Peso

Probably one of Argentina’s most bought and sold gold coin is from the Libertad series that ran from 1881 to 1896 when they stopped minting coins from precious metals. These are 5 Pesos coins. These were also called “Un Argentino” or one Argentino. These gold coins of Argentina are 90% fine gold with a diameter of 22 millimeters and have an actual gold content of 0.2334 troy ounces. The obverse has a portrait of Liberty’s head facing right with flowing hair and wearing a traditional liberty cab. Above her is “LIBERTAD” then separated by a star and continuing around the rim on the left is “5 PESOS”. A single star separates each phrase. On the right is “9DosFINE” and underneath her is “UN ARGENTINO”. The edge is reeded. On the reverse is the national seal of Argentina in the center. Underneath and along the rim is the date. Then around the rest of the coin is “REPUBLICA ARGENTINA”. The 5 pesos gold coins of Argentina are also referred to as being “One Escudos”. Half Argentino coins were also struck but only for two years.

Argentina was first discovered by the Spanish in 1519 however it was not until 1580 that the Spanish were able to establish a settlement in Buenos Aires. They rest of Argentina’s Providences started being formed as the Spanish started transporting silver and gold found in Peru over land for the preferable port of Buenos Aires, which at the time was called “Rio de la Plata”. When Napoleon conquered Spain in May of 1810 the first of Argentina’s uprisings took place. The newly free Providences started minting their own currency in 1813. It was not until July 9, 1816 that Argentina was able to free themselves of their colonial status.

1813 Argentina-Rio de la Plata 8 Escudos - obverse

Some of South America’s rarest and beautiful gold coins are from these fledgling years of Argentina. Of these gold coins the 8 Escudos from Rio de la Plata are highly prized by collectors. However there are a variety of key dates and designs. Since it took several decades for the Providences to finally to come to an accord of the governing body for an Argentinean republic there are many key-dates and short lived designs minted before 1881. Gold coins struck by mints in La Rioja and sometimes baring the pre-1881 inscription; “REPUB.ARGENT.CONFEDERADA” on the 2 Escudos which refers to the confederation some of the Providences allied themselves under. Many of the 2 Escudos are 22.90 millimeters in diameter weighing 6.75 grams and 87.5% gold which is a total gold content of 0.190 troy ounces. There are some variations of gold content amongst these gold coins and most of them are sold as numismatic pieces.

1842 Argentina-La Roija 2 Escudos

Because of various rivalries for rule over the Providences of Argentina there are numerous designs for the first sixty five years independently minted by the Providences. It was not until 1881 that the decimal denominations were set and Argentina started striking its coins untied as the Republic of Argentina (Republica Argentina).

2010 Argentina 10 Pesos World Cup

In 1994 Argentina started striking gold bullion coins. This first series commemorated Argentina’s Constitutional Convention and has two different size 90% gold bullion coins. One is marked as 25 pesos with a 19 millimeter diameter which weighs 4.032 grams. The other is labeled 50 pesos and is 22 millimeters in diameter weighing 8.064 grams. There are more than a dozen different gold bullion coins that Argentina has minted since then. Almost all of them are marked as 5 pesos and are 90% gold. These weigh 8.064 grams and are 22 millimeters in diameter. There are also 2004, 2005, and 2010 World Cup of soccer series 10 pesos gold bullion coins which are 99.9% gold, weigh 6.75 grams, and are 23 millimeters in diameter.