An Unexpected Discovery:
The Proposed Designs for a Bidenominational Coin for Puerto Rico The Exchange of the Puerto Rican Peso 1898 –1900 By Angel O. Navarro-Zayas Abstract The numismatic history of Puerto Rico has not been studied thoroughly by historians in the Island as well as in the mainland. In this article we describe how the exchange of the Puerto Rican provincial “peso” for the United States dollar took place shortly after the Spanish American War. Puerto Rican coinage was shortly after devaluated and taken from circulation after the war. The newly discovered drawings presented here demonstrate that US authorities did indeed thought of minting a special coinage for Puerto Rico apparently to make it easier on the transition from the Puerto Rican provincial peso to the United States currency.
Angel O. Navarro-Zayas Home address: Anaida C-29 4th St. Ponce, Puerto Rico 00716 angelnavarro2000@gmail.com
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