Casa de la Moneda

building, Potosí, Bolivia

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 24, 2026

Quick Summary

The Casa de la Moneda, or "House of Money," in Potosí, Bolivia, is a significant historical building. Originally constructed in the 1570s and rebuilt in the 18th century, it served as the Royal Mint for Spain's American colonies. Potosí itself is one of the world's highest cities, famous for the silver discovered in its Potosí Mountain in 1545, which led to rapid population growth and immense wealth.123

The Casa de la Moneda now houses a museum showcasing local history, including early mining machinery, ethnography, and art. The city of Potosí, with its well-preserved colonial architecture, was designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1987.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Potosí
The Casa de la Moneda (“House of Money”) was built in the 1570s and rebuilt in the 18th century; it now houses a museum of local history (including early mining machinery), ethnography, and art. The city is the seat of Tomás Frías Autonomous University (1892). UNESCO…
Read More
The Casa de la Moneda (“House of Money”) was built in the 1570s and rebuilt in the 18th century; it now houses a museum of local history (including early mining machinery), ethnography, and art. The city is the seat of Tomás Frías Autonomous University (1892). UNESCO…
Read More