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Friday, 22 December 2023

3119) "Sayhuite (or "Sigh-weetey" or "Say White") Stone," Peru: "Riqueza y Orgullo del Peru” ("Wealth and Pride of Peru Coin Series"): A 1 (One) Sol Coin showcases the Say White stone which served as a topographic hydraulic model for several generations: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2012:

3119) "Sayhuite (or "Sigh-weetey" or "Say White") Stone," Peru: "Riqueza y Orgullo del Peru” ("Wealth and Pride of Peru Coin Series"): A 1 (One) Sol Coin showcases the Say White stone which served as a topographic hydraulic model for several generations: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2012:

The Central Reserve Bank of Peru in 2010 unveiled the design for one-sol coins, in its 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/Monolith of Kuntur Wasi.

The Coins launched in this one-sol series included 26 unique designs reflecting Peru’s history and traditions.

"Sayhuite" (or "Sigh-weetey" or "Say White") Stone: 

Sayhuite is an archaeological site 47 kilometres (29 mi) East of the city of Abancay, about 3 hours away from the city of Cusco, in the province Abancay in the region Apurímac in Peru.

The site was a centre of religious worship for Inca people, focussing on water.

The Temple featured larger columns draped in fabrics with gold bands the "thickness of one's hand." The temple was also under the care of the priestess Asarpay, who jumped to her death in the nearby 400 metre gorge to avoid capture by Spanish forces.

An important feature on the site is the Sayhuite Monolith, an enormous rock containing more than 200 geometric and zoomorphic figures, including reptiles, frogs, and felines

Found at the top of a hill named Concacha, the stone was sculpted as a topographical hydraulic model, complete with terraces, ponds, rivers, tunnels, and irrigation channels.

The Monolith was used as a scale model to design, develop, test, and document the water flow for public water projects, and to teach ancient engineers and technicians the concepts and practices required.

The Monolith was "edited" several times, with new material, either altering the paths of the water or adding routes altogether.

 About two metres long, and four metres wide, the Monolith is the most popular attraction on the archaeological site.

Significance of the Monolith:

While the creators remain a mystery, the Monolith provides archaeologists with insight into the culture of the Incan population. 

Archaeologists have determined that the site was an Incan religious centre, where rituals and ceremonies for the worship of water was conducted

The Monolith is an important clue to this, since it depicts a water-like flow between the carvings

Carvings in its upper part represent terraces, irrigation canals, pumas, and other animals, such as lizards were a symbolic representation of the valley.

While the precise meaning of this stone still remains a mystery, the Monolith is part of the material culture of the Incan people, and as such helps archaeologists piece together how and why they lived this way. 

The Commemorative Coin:

The Reverse of the One Sol Coin features the "Sayhuite" (or "Sigh-weetey" or "Say White") Stone.

To the right is the mint mark "LIMA" of the National Mint House.  

Inscribed towards the upper periphery is the inscription - "TUMI DE ORO - S. XV d.C.". 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 - "2012".

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"Sayhuite" (or "Sigh-weetey" or "Say White") Stone"; Coin Quality: Circulation Commemorative Coin; Date/Year of Coin issue: 2012; 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. "Sayhuite" (or "Sigh-weetey" or "Say-White") Stone."



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 post."

    ReplyDelete