ARGENTINA. La Rioja. 8 Escudos, 1842-R. La Rioja Mint. NGC EF Details--Repaired. Fr-10; KM-4; Onza-1575; CJ-51. Coarse diagonal reeding. EXTREMELY RARE with few examples known to the numismatic community. Uniformed bust left of Argentinas first military dictator, General Juan Manuel de Rosas (ruled 1829-1852), the legend gives the title RESTAURADOR DE LAS LEYES, Restorer of the Laws; Reverse: Oval Arms crowned by brilliant Sun, legend REPUB. ARGENT. CONFEDERADA, Confederated Argentine Republic. Careful examination of this major rarity reveals hints of tasteful expertly executed smoothing from long ago on the portrait and obverse field, though the reverse is wholly original and luster extends over both sides for exciting visual quality complemented by rich sunset hued patina.emAccording to our records no example of this type appeared in the Fonrobert, Rosa of Buenos Aires or Karon collections that were rich in Latin American gold. The example in the classic Georg F. Ulex Collection sold by Adolph Hess in 1904 was sold by Stacks in January 2004 with the note that only five pieces were known. Rosas (1793-1877) ranks among the most ruthless and successful of all Latin American military dictators. A Portenos or native of Buenos Aires, he paradoxically opposed the Unitarios who sought a tightly centralized republic, insisting on a loose Confederation and using the slogan Mueran los Sauvages Unitarios, Death to the Unitary Savages on state documents and even tombstones. Defeated in the war with Brazil in February 1852, Rosas fled to England and died there in 1877. Modern advocates of authoritarian government are still called Rosistas today./em Ex: Stacks Auction January 10, 2010, Lot # 1077.Ex: Stacks Auction January 14, 2008, Lot # 3425.Ex. Stacks Auction March 7, 2006, Lot # 875. Ex. Louis E. Eliasberg Collection.Ex. John H. Clapp Collection via Stacks, 1942.
