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

[WillieBoyd2]

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.