In 1750 the Spanish crown sent these laminating machines to the mint. They were made of oak. They were sent from Spain to Buenos Aires Argentina, and from Buenos Aires they were shipped via mule train to Potosi. Before this, African slaves and Indians [...]

 In 1759, the King of Spain, hoping to improve coin production techniques, ordered the construction of a new mint. This is the courtyard of the mint, which is now a museum. The Casa de Moneda, as it is known in Spanish, provides excellent [...]

 The Spanish mine owners weren't necessarily overtly abusive to the indigenous workers. They didn't have to be; the conditions in the mines were enough to kill the hardiest workers.  Colonial miners worked, ate, and even slept in [...]

Today I begin a multi-part series on the Cerro Rico of Potosi; I am writing these posts with the hope of putting into historical context the 20th century cycle of Bolivian capitalization and nationalization. [...]