Aymara Purse - Bolivian 1/4 real, coca leaves / check out the pictures

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13coinmike
Closed account
Posted: 26 Oct 2019, 23:02 #
Edited: 15 Jun 2022, 00:15
Posted: #
Edited:

I ran across quite a few 1/4 Real Bolivian coins, all holed. I did some research and found out why so many are holed, and low and behold "they were used to pay tax's and tolls along their route"  easily removable for quick payment.

N#61816
Bolivian proclamation pieces, and about 95% of them have holes. It was a tradition in the latter parts of the 1800's in Bolivia to pierce interesting coins and sew them on to 'Chuspas', which were coca bags known as Aymara Purse's. Original bags with the coins still attached appear to be SUPER rare. I buy them whenever presented to me. Here is a picture of a few bags:

johnspa
Joined: 27 Jun 2013
Posts: 927
Posted: 27 Oct 2019, 04:41 #
Edited: 27 Oct 2019, 04:51
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Wow!! Super interesting. Never heard of that before. I love the wear on your bag. How old is it? Where can I find info on Chuspas?
13coinmike
Closed account
Posted: 27 Oct 2019, 04:57 #
Posted: #
Quote: "johnspa"​Wow!! Super interesting. Never heard of that before. I love the wear on your bag. How old is it? Where can I find info on Chuspas?
​
​Mid 1800's and the bag is very fragile, they make new ones also, but not with the coins.
The Aymara ladies still weave the purses.

Wikipedia has a good article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuspas

regards
Mike
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