Municipal tokens (coinage) from San Luis Potosí

In February 1806, when Viceroy Iturrigaray authorized the issue of tlacos in San Luis Potosí, he mentions the following reasons that led the government to endorse the issue of low-denomination coinage: Constant counterfeiting of the copper coinage issued by individuals; their necessity in small currency trading; and an abundance of currency issued by various landowners and localities. There is an urgent need to centralize and unify issues that, due to their different qualities, are easy to falsify.

A short time later, on 18 June 1807, Viceroy Iturrigaray issued a decree (bando)^{[text needed]} authorizing the issuance of copper coins in San Luis Potosí.

Charcas

Charcas 1813 Charcas 1813 reverse
Charcas ¼r 1813 (Briggs & Bustos auction XIII, 12 September 2025, lot 190)

First necessity issue struck during the War of Independence in the locality of Charcas. Well-executed and attractive design featuring the initials “YA/RID.CHs,” interpreted as Ylustre Ayuntamiento Real de Charcas. The centre displays the date 1813, with the denomination ¼ beneath.

Matehuala

Cabildo de Matehuala Cabildo de Matehuala reverse
Matehuala ⅛r (Briggs & Bustos auction IX, 13 September 2024, lot 267)

Municipal Coin corresponding to the royalist side during the War of Independence, issued by the Cabildo of Matehuala, probably contemporary to the “Publico de Matehuala” of 1816 LINK, given certain similarities in design, central legends in obedience to Ferdinand VII; on obverse “POR. F/VII”, reverse ”VIVA/FO 7, note the change from Roman to Arabic numbering, as for the value it is believed to correspond to an Octavo de Real.