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Wednesday, 20 December 2023

3116) "Gran Pajatén," Peru: "Riqueza y Orgullo del Peru” ("Wealth and Pride of Peru Coin Series"): A 1 (One) Sol Coin showcases the legendary Archaeological Site: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2011:

3116) "Gran Pajatén," Peru: "Riqueza y Orgullo del Peru” ("Wealth and Pride of Peru Coin Series"): A 1 (One) Sol Coin showcases the legendary Archaeological Site: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2011:

The Central Reserve Bank of Peru in 2013 unveiled the design for one-sol coins, the tenth 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 SillustaniMachu 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 Gran Pajetan.

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

Gran Pajatén:

Gran Pajatén is an archaeological site located in the Andean cloud forests of Peru, on the border of the La Libertad region and the San Martín region, between the Marañon and Huallaga rivers. The archaeological site lies in the Rio Abiseo National Park, which was established in 1983.

The park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Natural Site in 1990, and Cultural Site in 1992

In order to protect the fragile ruins and endangered environment, the archaeological site and the national park are currently not open to visitors without permits from Peru's Ministry of Agriculture and National Institute of Culture.

The related site of Los Pinchudos is located very near Gran Pajaten.

Gran Pajatén sits on a hilltop above the Montecristo River valley, and consists of a series of at least 26 circular stone structures atop numerous terraces and stairways. 

The ruins occupy an area of about 20,000 m². The principal buildings are decorated with slate mosaics displaying human, bird and geometric motifs. 

Analysis of ceramic samples and radiocarbon dates show that the area was occupied as early as 200 BCE, but the visible building ruins on the present site were constructed during Inca times.

Based primarily on architectural evidence, the settlement is attributed to the Chachapoyas culture.

The site was discovered around 1940 by Juanjui resident Eduardo Pena Meza while exploring the area for a possible road project. However, there is no evidence that ruins he encountered were those of Gran Pajatén or ruins of another abandoned prehispanic settlement. 

Therefore, the "discovery" of Gran Pajatén is attributed to villagers from the town of Pataz in 1963

An official Peruvian government expedition visited the site and began to clear vegetation in late 1965

By 1966, the Peruvian government had set up a helicopter pad and cleared much of the protective vegetation that surrounded the site. Many years later, these actions raised criticism due to the delicate nature of the archaeological site. Without the protection of dense vegetation, the stone ruins began to rapidly deteriorate.

Preservation:

In 1985, a team led by the anthropology department at University of Colorado began a major research project at Gran Pajatén and surrounding archaeological sites in the park. 

The expedition was widely publicised, and this second large-scale investigation led to further discussions of opening the site up to tourism. 

A Peruvian televised expedition in 1990 once again cleared the protective vegetation from the site, and further damaged the ruins. 

Presently, there are plans for construction of several roads and tourist infrastructure in the region. 

Neither have been implemented due to the fragile nature of the ruins and the high cost of conserving the site while minimizing tourist impacts on its archaeological integrity and environmental context.

At present in 2023, the World Monument Fund is financing conservation work at Gran Pajatén as well as renewed archaeological investigations.

The Commemorative Coin:


The Reverse of the One Sol Coin features the façade of the Gran Pajetan. To the right is the mint mark "LIMA" of the National Mint House.  

Inscribed towards the upper periphery is the inscription - "GRAN PAJETAN - S.XIII.dC". Vertically engraved is seen "1 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 - "2011".

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: Archeological Site of "GRAN PAJETAN"; Coin Quality: Circulation Commemorative Coin; Date/Year of Coin issue: 2011; 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;  Mint Mark: LIMA; Mintage: 10.00 Million pieces; ShapeRound; 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

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