Coin Pièce Colombia 2 centavos Copper-Nickel 1921 Bogota

This 2 centavos coin issued in 1921 belongs to a particularly rare and historically significant category of Colombian numismatics: the so-called Lazareto coins, struck specifically to circulate within the leper colonies established in Colombia.

In the early 20th century, Colombia, like other nations, implemented a strict health policy aimed at isolating people suffering from leprosy in closed colonies known as lazarettos. In order to prevent any supposed contamination through ordinary banknotes and coins, special coins were issued and reserved exclusively for internal use within these establishments. These coins were legally prohibited from circulating outside these colonies, which gives them a truly unique numismatic status today.

This coin was issued by the monetary institute of Bogota. It is composed of copper-nickel, an alloy commonly used for divisional coins of that era, offering good wear resistance and a characteristic appearance. It has a diameter of 18 millimetres and a weight of 3 grams.

Colombian Lazareto coins form a fully-fledged historical and medical series. Issued in several denominations and at different periods, they bear witness to a sanitary practice now long gone but once widespread in several Latin American countries. Colombia is one of the countries that produced the most documented issues of this type, particularly around the colonies of Contratación and Agua de Dios.

Due to their restricted use among isolated populations and their prohibition from external circulation, these coins were produced in limited quantities and saw little circulation in the traditional sense, which explains their relative scarcity on the contemporary numismatic market.