Pirates of Monterey California, November 20, 1818, Argentine 8 Reales 1813

November 20, 1818, a date which will live not in infamy but in historical trivia.

Monterey, California holds the dubious distinction of being the only city in California to have been sacked by pirates.

It happened in 1818, during the Spanish-American wars of independence. Privateers from Argentina attacked Alta California, which was under Spanish control. French sea captain Hipólyte Bouchard led the attack and plundered Monterey. It was the only time California was invaded by an enemy.


United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata (Argentina) 8 Reales 1813

Specs: Silver, 38.0mm x 37.5mm, 26.80gm
Obverse: Sun face and rays / PROVINCIAS DEL LA RIO DELA PLATA (Provinces of the Rio de la Plata)
Reverse: Wreath, two hands holding Liberty Cap / EN UNION Y LIBERTAD / 1813
Mintmark: Monogram for Potosi Bolivia and Assayer initial 'J'

Argentina was known as the "United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata" from 1810 to 1825, after a revolt and separation from Spain. The provinces took the name "Argentina" in 1825 and are usually referred to by that name.

In 1818, Argentina commissioned a privateer named Hipólyte Bouchard to raid Spanish shipping. He headed first for the Spanish Philippines, but found little to raid. He then sailed to Hawaii where he met an Englishman who told him about Monterey and its suspected Spanish riches.

Monterey was the Spanish capital of Alta California and had a Spanish population of about 400. California was low on the scale of Spanish colonies compared to Mexico and Peru, as it did not have the gold that the Spanish Conquistadors wanted. The colonists managed by raising cattle and working Indians at missions.

On November 20, 1818, Bouchard's two ships, the La Argentina and Santa Rosa, arrived in Monterey.

The next day, the Santa Rosa opened fire on the El Castillo fort and the return fire from a shore battery caused the Spaniards on shore to reject Bouchard’s demand for surrender. According to the Spanish governor, the pirates landed the next day but were chased off, according to Bouchard they took over the fort.

The next morning, November 22, Bouchard’s 200 men landed and occupied the fort.

The crew left the mission and church alone, but began looting houses and businesses. They didn’t find much money or valuables, no doubloons or pieces of eight. They shot some farm animals, and stole whatever Spanish items they could find.

The raiders held the town for six days and then left and headed south. Before leaving, the pirates set fire to the presidio adobe houses which didn't burn. The ships then attacked another California town, San Juan Capistrano, then headed to Mexico for more raiding and back to South America.

Bouchard is a hero in Argentina and has streets named after him.

A strange reason for having a coin but as I live in California, to have coin associated with the state's only pirate raid is something.

 

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Bouchard was the first pirate to raid, but not to visit California. Sir Francis Drake would hold that distinction more than two centuries earlier. Whilst much of the English speaking world remembers him as an explorer, he had a lettre of marque from Queen Elizabeth which legitimized his piracy of Spanish shipping.

 

I think Mexico might disagree with the assessment that this raid was the "only time California was invaded by an enemy".

 

From 1732 to 1867, the Russian Empire, ruled by Peter the Great, sent Vitus Bering to the Americas to set up fur hunting camps because of over hunting in Siberia. An outpost was built at Fort Ross, Ca in 1812. They plundered the sea otter for fur, but when profits dwindled, they sold Fort Ross in 1842, and Alaska in 1867 to the United States.

 

Nice coin, good write up.

 

Accd to some of the current Russian Tsar's supporters the Russian American Company was never paid for the land - so title didn't pass. The first signs that the previous residents will be returning are dark burgundy coloured passports with a double headed eagle start showing up as identity documents amongst the populace. Soon afterwards little green men without any insignia but heavily armed with AK-47s will appear as if out of the woodwork.

Curiously enough, they will forget to take the Russian license plates off of their otherwise civilian looking trucks. The little green men speaking an angry sounding language will bring with them their puppet masters who will then instruct the populace to vote for reunion with the Motherland. In usual style there is one box on the ballot "Yes". Thereafter the US dollar will be removed from circulation and replaced with the Russian American Ruble. And you wondered where this was going numismatically.

 

Very interesting bit of history, willieboyd2, and nice write-up.
Imagine that, argentinian privateers raiding California....

I really like your 8 Reales Rio de la Plata 1813 and have been looking for one for a while, as well. It seems to be a very popular type coin.

That was the first year of Argentine coinage, I believe? The next year was 1815.
I have just this week purchased an 1813 1 Real. A fairly scarce denomination.

 

I have been asked where the coin came from.

It was from the Heritage September 2016 Long Beach auction.

 

Great educational post.