The Casa de la Moneda in Potosí is a vast colonial building of 12,500 m² that housed the minting of silver coins extracted from Cerro Rico for over three centuries. Transformed into a museum, it now brings together numismatic collections, colonial paintings, mineralogy exhibits and minting machinery, and remains one of the major stops for understanding Potosí's role in the Spanish empire's economy.

Why visit Casa de la Moneda

The site's appeal lies in the rare combination of a monumental colonial building, an industrial function (coin minting) and world-class artistic collections. The entrance portico, carved by Indian artists, sets the tone: an architectural syncretism visible throughout the house. In the main courtyard, the Mascarón, or mask of Bacchus, forged by Frenchman Eugène Martin Moulon, has become one of Potosí's symbols.

The visit covers more than fifty rooms spread around three inner courtyards: minting workshops, silver halls, colonial painting collections and mineralogical gallery. It is the most comprehensive attraction in the city for grasping the history of Bolivian silver, from extraction to the circulation of coins.

History of the building

Built by the Spanish in the 18th century (construction carried out in the second half of the century, into the 1770s) on the site of a former marketplace, Casa de la Moneda was designed to mint coins from Cerro Rico silver. It retained this monopoly until 1909, when minting ceased permanently.

The transport of materials illustrates the logistical scale of the project: windowpanes came from Cochabamba, balconies were shipped from Salamanca and unloaded in Buenos Aires before traveling up to the Altiplano. During the Chaco War (1932-1935), the building was converted into a prison, fortress and military headquarters before returning to its museum purpose.

What to see inside

The minting and rolling mills rooms

The rolling mill room displays imposing wooden machines used to flatten silver ingots, their mechanism reminiscent of large clocks. These devices were transported by mule from Buenos Aires to Potosí. Next door, the silver room exhibits utensils, candlesticks and festive clothing, as well as smelting furnaces.

The numismatic room

Here you can observe macuquinas, coins hand-stamped one by one between the 16th and 19th centuries, as well as commemorative medals that trace the evolution of colonial and republican currency.

The mineralogy room

More than 3,600 mineral varieties are assembled here, including bolivianita, a two-toned stone unique to Bolivia that combines amethyst and citrine.

Colonial painting collections

• Melchor Pérez de Holguín: major painter of the Potosí school, represented here by several religious canvases. His masterpiece, The Entry of Viceroy Morcillo into Potosí, is held in the Prado Museum in Madrid.
• Luis Niño: an entire room is dedicated to him, featuring the Virgen del Rosario, the Virgen de Sabaya, and works blending Andean Trinity and Pachamama in a palette dominated by blue, red and gold.
• Cecilio Guzmán de Rojas, whose portrait appears on 10 boliviano notes, with his painting The Kiss of the Idol, which questions the persistence of Andean divinities in Bolivian society.
• The Virgin of Cerro (18th century, anonymous): an emblematic painting where the silhouette of the Virgin merges with the silver mountain, under the protection of the Trinity.

Another room houses pre-Columbian artifacts, funeral textiles and mummies found in the region.

Practical information

• Address: entrance via Ayacucho Street, in the historic center of Potosí.
• Opening days: Tuesday to Saturday, morning and afternoon (verify current hours upon arrival, closed Mondays).
• Mandatory guided tour in French, English or Spanish, lasting 1.5 to 2 hours. Departures are organized at set times several times daily.
• Fee: moderate entrance fee, supplement for photography and video. Flash photography is prohibited in the painting galleries.
• Tip: Potosí sits above 4,000 m elevation. Allow time for acclimatization before the visit, which involves climbing several stairs.

How to get there

Casa de la Moneda is a stone's throw from Plaza 10 de Noviembre, the heart of Potosí. It is accessible on foot from any hotel in the historic center.

From Sucre, the constitutional capital located about 160 km away, allow 3 to 4 hours by regular bus or private transfer. From La Paz or Uyuni, overnight bus connections also link to Potosí. The most convenient airport for reaching the region remains Sucre's.

Nearby

• The Cerro Rico mines, whose silver fed precisely the Casa de la Moneda workshops: a challenging but essential visit to grasp the other side of the colonial story.
• The Casa de la Libertad in Sucre, where Bolivia's independence declaration was signed in 1825: a logical historical complement after Potosí.
• The Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, to continue exploring colonial religious heritage.

Frequently asked questions

Include Potosí in your trip

Casa de la Moneda fits naturally into an itinerary combining Sucre, Potosí and the Salar de Uyuni. To build a custom itinerary in Bolivie, consult our Bolivie travel guide and our trip suggestions.