1615) Spain: Second coin released in the popular Coin Series titled - “V Centenario Vuelta al Mundo” (meaning -"Fifth Centenary of the First Circumnavigation of the World") Collector series released by The Fabrica Nacional Moneda y Timbre — Real Casa de la Moneda on 16.11.2020:
The second coin in a series of four titled - “V Centenary of the First Circumnavigation of the World,” is part of their commemoration of the 500th anniversary of this extraordinary event in early exploration.
The Obverse and Reverse of the Silver Coin placed against a background Map of the known sea-routes at that time and the portraits of El Cano and Magellan.
It was the Portuguese-born explorer, Fernão de Magalhães (1480–1521 - also known as "Magellan"), whose expedition undertook the first circumnavigation of the globe from 1519 to 1522.
The "Sea of Darkness," as the Atlantic Ocean was referred to at that time, was believed to be totally inaccessible to sailors. A chronicler of the time defined it as a vast and limitless sea, in which ships do not dare to leave the coast, because, although they know the direction of the winds, many still believed the Earth was flat and not a globe.
Navigators were unsure of where they might be taken, as it was thought there was no inhabited territory beyond the edge of the seas and they would risk getting lost in the mist and darkness. Adding to the intrigue and mystery, as well as fear, it was thought that beyond the edge of the sea, there were evil monsters and mermaids that took men to the bottom of the sea.
However, beyond all the superstition and fear, it was Magellan who successfully charted a path from the west coast of Europe to the Pacific Ocean sailing through the body of water separating mainland South America from the land-mass known as Tierra del Fuego.
It would not be until 1525 that Spanish navigator Francisco de Hoces was blown off-course trying to sail through the Magellan passage when he discovered there was another route around the Cape Horn of South America.
However, it was the 16th-century English privateer Francis Drake who was also blown off-course far south in September 1578. It was this incident which demonstrated to the sailors that there was open water south of South America and an alternative route to the Pacific, hence the name the “Drake Passage.”
The Commemorative Coin:
The second coin in the series is dedicated to the "Crossing of the Strait of Magellan – the Sea of Darkness".
The Obverse of the 10 Euros/8 Reales Coin, which will be the same design throughout the series, depicts two images of Juan Sebastián Elcano and Fernando de Magellan.
Juan Sebastián Elcano (1487–1526) was a Spanish Basque explorer who completed the first circumnavigation of the Earth after Magellan’s death in the Philippines.
The three-quarter facing portraits are reproduced from the portraits, both of which are kept in the Naval Museum of Madrid. Above the two images is a compass rose.
On the right of Magellan’s portrait and within an oval shape is a detail of a front-facing portrait of King Carlos V painted by the artist Leone Pompeo Leoni, which is kept in the Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid.
Below the king’s likeness are the inscriptions - "CARLOS V." Above the primary design is the text "ESPAÑA 2020" and below the two portraits is the text "ELCANO MAGALLANES" separated by a dash. Occupying the entire field of the coin’s design are lines representing a wind grid.
The Reverse of the 10 Euros/8 Reales Coin depicted in full colour, includes an illustration of the sea with Spanish galleons and sea monsters that were conjured from men’s imagination of the day.
Prominent is a merman holding a trident attempting to bring down a galleon. The little angel on top of the galleon is a representation of the winds. Below the illustration is the text - "V CENTENARIO DE LA VUELTA DEL MUNDO" (“V Centenary around the World”).
The denomination of "10 EURO" is seen to the upper-left with the Real Casa’s mintmark, the "crowned M" is placed to the right of the larger galleon.
The specifications of this Silver Coin are:
Denomination: 10 Euro/8 Reales; Metal Composition: .925 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 27.0 grams; Diameter/Size: 40.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof with applied colour; Maximum Mintage: 6,000 pieces; Minted by: The Fabrica Nacional Moneda y Timbre - Casa de la Moneda (The Spanish Mint); Year/Date of issue: 16.11.2020; Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes; Presentation Box: Yes.
Interesting links to posts on Portugal and Spanish Coins and postage stamps on this blog:
9) "Nacional Museo del Prado", Spain: Celebrating the Bicentenary milestone (1819-2019): Commemorative Silver Coins of 30 Euros issued by Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre - Casa Real de la Moneda on 20.11.2019: Coins minted by the Madrid Mint
12) The New Silk Road: A Joint issue of a two stamp set of 1.50 Euros each by Spain (Correos Post) and China: Stamps issue date: 01.07.2019
13) Charming Towns, Spain : For the past five years, Correos (Spanish Post) has issued Stamps and Postcards on four beautiful Spanish villages as old-fashioned accordion-style postcards: Date of PostCards/Stamp set issue: 30.03.2020
14) "International LGBTQ Pride Day", Spain: The LGBTQ Pride Day Flag (Rainbow Flag) depicted on the first ever stamp issued: Date of Stamp issued: 15.06.2020
15) "Card Games", Spain: Correos Espana (Spanish Post) has issued a Stamp Sheet of 3.80 Euros representing the four suits (Swords, Pentacles, Cups & Wands) in a Tarot Deck, as the Origins of Card Games: Date of Stamp Sheet issue: 02.07.2020
For more interesting posts on Coins and stamps of Portugal, please visit the following links:
5) "The Joker", Portugal: Portugal Post has issued a set of four stamps featuring "The Joker"character of DC Comics, who is an archenemy of the "Batman": Date of Stamp issue: 31.03.2020
6) Portuguese Numismatics (1st Group): A set of four Stamps in the values of N20g, A20g, E20g and 120g issued by CTT Correios (Portuguese Post) in partnership with INCM ("Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda (the "Portuguese Mint & Official Printing Office") depicting coins from various periods of history: Date od Stamp set issue: 22.04.2020
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