The "Casa de Moneda" in Potosi, constructed from 1753 to 1773, is the pace where money was coined. It is a sturdy building. Nowadays it is a museum with a divers collection, from rocks to paintings, from coins to machinery. Very worthwhile to spend part of the day there.
It was impossible for me (and my camera) to take a decent picture of the entrance..... It is this enormous entrance halfway the street.
The Casa de Moneda.
The inner court with the face of Bacchus(???) getting his teeth brushed.
The museum has only guided tours. It is interesting, but my Spanish is non existent so I could not follow the explanations. The light in the museum is also not good for taking pictures (as you will notice). And... no flash.
The inner court.
Sundial.
Very thick strong walls....
A perfectly restored building.
With an interesting collection.
A locomtive....
A gallery with pictures....
Primitive coining utensils....
The museum has three huge rolling mils for silver
bars. Originally these machine were driven by 4 donkeys, flattening
silver bars of 25 x 5 x 2 cm into flat sheets of 0,5 mm. The donkeys were
not suitable and died already after working for a few months. Then they were replaced by 20 African
slaves....
Scales
An intricate lock....
A modern coining machine.
Old map of the Cerro Rico.
The melting and casting of silver / iron.
The geological department.
Letter of Simon Bolivar.
Machines....
... and more machines.
Last but not least....
Saint Eloy - Patron Saint of metalworkers and goldsmiths.
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