FERNANDO VI

The Guatemala Mint, always heavily dependent on the Mexico Mint, was the only mint to strike hammered onzas with bust portraits featuring large wigs (peluconas) during the reign of Philip V. Initially, these coins were copied from the Mexican issues minted using the screw press (1733-1746). In fact, the dies for these coins were created in Mexico in 1732 by the engraver Francisco Monllor, incorporating special features to facilitate hammered minting, such as deeper and less subtle lines. These dies were repaired and used for nearly 20 years. In the documents of that period these pieces were referred to as moneda macaca or simply macacos. They are unique in their class, possessing distinct characteristics that make them easily distinguishable from other coins, both before and after their production. First, their planchets are smaller than the official size, but this was formally authorised due to their minting technique, since in this way the pressure of the hammer blow could be increased. However, this also led to partial impressions on the coins, as the dies were larger than the planchets, resulting in the loss of some details. The coins have a rather crude appearance; in some cases, multiple hammer strikes—two or even three—are visible, especially on larger pieces. Efforts were made to make the planchets as round as possible, and they also feature a simple, unrefined raised rim (estriado simple). After the accession of Ferdinand VI, a Royal Decree issued on May 14, 1751, ordered that the Guatemala Mint should begin striking coins with the minting press, since their coins were more susceptible to fraud through clipping and were easier to counterfeit. However, due to the lack of appropriate equipment, it was not until mid-1754 that the first round coins, with the proper beaded border and struck using the minting press were minted there. As a result, onzas struck with a hammer were still minted in Guatemala prior to this decree, in 1747 and 1750, and even after it, in 1751 and 1752. All these coins retained the portrait of the former monarch, Philip V, but with the abbreviated name of the new king (FERD. VI). This makes all these onzas extremely rare and highly valued, as they represent the last bust onzas macuquinas. The assayer for all these Guatemala coins was José León de Sosa (J).