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Monday 18 December 2023

3113) The Inca Temple of the Sun" in Huaytará in Central Peru: "Riqueza y Orgullo del Peru” ("Wealth and Pride of Peru Coin Series"): A 1 (One) Sol Coin showcases the legendary Temple: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2013:

3113) The Inca Temple of the Sun" in Huaytará in Central Peru: "Riqueza y Orgullo del Peru” ("Wealth and Pride of Peru Coin Series"): A 1 (One) Sol Coin showcases the legendary Temple: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2013:

The Central Reserve Bank of Peru in 2013 unveiled the design for one-sol coins, the twelfth of the numismatic series called “Riqueza y Orgullo del Peru” ("Wealth and Pride of Peru").

The "Wealth and Pride of Peru" series first began in 2010 with the issue of the Golden Tumi as its motif.

Successive coins were issued such as the Karajia Sarcophagi, the Estela de Raimondi, the Chullupas of Sillustani, Machu Picchu, the Monastery of Santa Catalina, the Saywite Stone, the Great Pajaten, the Real Felipe Fortress, and the Temple of Vilcashuamán, and the Ruins of Kuntur Wasi.

This design features the Inca Temple of Huaytara in the central-eastern region of Huancavelica.

This is the twelfth coin launched in this one-sol series which will include 26 unique designs reflecting Peru’s history and traditions.

The Temple of the Sun" in Huaytará in Central Peru

Huaytará is a town in central Peru, capital of the Huaytará Province, Huancavelica.

The archaeological complex of Huaytará is located in the district of Huaytará, within the province of the same name, in the department and region of Huancavelica.

The Temple of Huaytará, which is the main construction of the Incas that is found in this archaeological complex, is a work of the Inca Pachacútec (Inca Yupanqui) that was built during the conquest period of the Chincha by the beginning of the 15th century

A century later, during the Spanish viceroyalty of Peru, and in a mission of extirpation of idolatries initiated by the Spaniards who were totally ignorant/intolerant of other religious beliefs and destroyed many non-Christian cultures, this ancient Temple was used as a base for the construction of the Catholic church San Juan Bautista de Huaytará.

During Spanish rule/colonial times, the ignorant Spaniards converted the temple into a Catholic Church - where mass is still carried out usng the original niches of the Inca Temple.

It is believed that the Inca building, on which the church of San Juan Bautista was built, was a "Temple of the Sun".

The architecture of the "Temple of the Sun":

The architecture of the Inca temple, it was made from blocks of pink granite stone. 

Regarding the architecture of the Inca temple of the XV, it had a trapezoidal plant. 

Structurally, it was made out of pink gratia stone blocks, with a thickness of 1.65 m. and that reached a height of 3.70 m. 

The presence of niches, as well as double jamb entrances, is constant in the building. In the façade, which measures more than 9 metres, one can see the presence of three-dimensional entrances. 

All of the above are features that support the hypothesis that it was a building of important value for the Inca ancestors.

Founded as Villa Rica de Oropesa (“Rich Town of Oropesa”) in 1572, it was almost immediately called Huancavelica—a Spanish corruption of the Quechua name for the site, meaning “stone idol”—and was officially declared a city with its present name in 1581.

The Commemorative Coin:

The Reverse of the One Sol Coin features the Wal and Tower of the Inca Temple of Huaytará, built by Inca Yupanqui (Pachacutec) in the early 15th century. 

Inscribed towards the upper periphery is the inscription - "TEMPLO INCA HUAYTARA - S.XV.dC". Vertically engraved is seen "NEUVO SOL".

On the Obverse of all Peruvian Coins, the National Coat of Arms, the inscription "Banco Central de Reserva del Peru" is seen on the upper Periphery and the Year of Minting is placed on the lower periphery - "2013".

The specifications of the One Sol Coin are:

Country of issue: Republic of Peru; Coin Series Theme: "Riqueza y Orgullo del Peru” ("Wealth and Pride of Peru Coin Series"); Coin Theme: "Inca Temple of Huaytará"; Coin Quality: Circulation Commemorative Coin; Date/Year of Coin issue: 2013; Denomination of Coin: 1 (One Nuevo Sol); Metal Composition: Nickel-brass; Weight: 7.32 grams; Diameter/Size: 25.5 mm; Thickness: 1.9 mm; Minted ByNational Mint House;  Mintage: 10.00 Million pieces; Shape: Round; Technique: Milled; Orientation/Coin alignment: ↑↓; Edge: Reeded.





Links to Posts on Peru:

Links to Posts on Argentina:


Links to Posts on Guyana:

1) A $500 (Five Hundred Dollars) Banknote issued by the Bank of Guyana

2) A $1000 (One Thousand Dollars) Banknote issued by the Bank of Guyana: Date of Banknote issue: 04.03.2019

Links to Posts on Turks and Caicos Islands:

1) A Quarter Crown (1/4) Coin, Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), A British Overseas Territory (BOT): The Coin was only issued in 1981 and was since demonetised in 1986

2) A Half Crown (1/2) Coin, Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), A British Overseas Territory (BOT): The Coin was issued only in 1981 and was since demonetised in 1982

Links to Posts on Curacao on this Blog:

1) Festival di Tumba (Carnival of Curacao), Curacao: "50th Edition of the Curacao Carnival/Festival" held from 27-31.01.2020: A set of six Commemorative Postage Stamps brought out by Cpost (Curacao Post) on 20.02.2020

2) Trains of South America, Curacao: Cpost International (Curacao Post) has issued a set of stamps featuring Trains of South America: Date of Stamp set issue: 21.06.2021

3) Willemstad, Curacao: 25 Years of UNESCO World Heritage Site: Cpost International (Curacao Post) has issued a set of 16 postage stamps celebrating the milestone: Date of Stamps set issue: 18.08.2022

4) Willemstad, (Dutch, Caribbean Island, Curacao), Netherlands: "Dutch World Heritage Coin Series": Tenth Coin in the Series of 10 Euro (Gold) and 5 Euro (Silver) Collector Coins minted by the Royal Dutch Mint (RDM) feature this historic city: Date/Year of Coins issue: 02.02.2023

For some other interesting posts on Currencies of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, please visit the following links:








Links to some other interesting posts from South American countries & Mexico:

1) The Evolution of Mexican Coinage


24) Bolivar Soberano (or "Sovereign Bolivar"), Venezuela: (2018 Series of Banknotes) introduced by Banco de National, the Central Bank of Venezuela on 20.08.2018 


1) Trains of South America, Curacao: Cpost International (Curacao Post) has issued a set of stamps featuring Trains of South America: Date of Stamp set issue: 21.06.2021

2 comments:

  1. Santosh Khanna has commented:
    "Thanks for sharing this interesting and informative post."

    ReplyDelete