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Wednesday 27 December 2023

3127) ""Real Filipe Fortress" or "King Philip's Fortress"" Peru: "Riqueza y Orgullo del Peru” ("Wealth and Pride of Peru Coin Series"): A 1 (One) Sol Coin showcases the ruims of the fortified fortress: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2013:

3127) ""Real Filipe Fortress" or "King Philip's Fortress"" Peru: "Riqueza y Orgullo del Peru” ("Wealth and Pride of Peru Coin Series"): A 1 (One) Sol Coin showcases the ruins of the fortified fortress: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2013:

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.

Peru’s Central Bank has issued a new sol coin featuring the "Real Filipe Fortress or King Philip's Fortress" in 2013 in its Wealth and Pride series of collectors’ coins.

"Real Filipe Fortress or King Philip's Fortress":

King Philip's Fortress is a landmark in Peru's history and a singular example of 18th-century military architecture

Built to defend Callao, it was the scene of conspiracies under the government of Viceroy Pezuela, intense political events during Bolívar's era and the capitulation of Rodil, which put an end to Spanish domination of Peru.

 The Real Felipe Fortress was built to defend the main Peruvian port and the city of Lima from pirates and corsairs during colonial times

The fortress was pivotal in the 1826 naval battle between a Spanish fleet sent to South America to "reclaim" its colonies and land batteries in the coast of Peru

The Real Felipe Fortress is currently the Peruvian Army Museum, displaying historical uniforms, weapons and other military paraphernalia.

During the Spanish colonisation of Peru, Callao was the main port of the Americas, it connected the colonies with Spain. Due to the lack of adequate defenses, several pirate incursions took place

In an attempt to protect the port, the Spanish focussed on the construction of the walls of Lima between the years 1640 and 1647 to protect the city.

However, the 1746 Lima–Callao earthquake, destroyed most of the fortifications. The Spanish colonisers, ordered the contraction of the fortress to bolster the defense of the port.

The rebuilding of the Fort was considered one of the most important constructions made by Spain in the New World, costing about three million pesetas

Most of the stone came from San Lorenzo Island and from the ruins caused by the earthquake.  Construction ended in 1774.

In 1782, it was decided to bolster the defences of the fortress with the construction of two smaller complementary fortresses - the "San Miguel" and the "San Rafael". This system came to be known as "Los Castillos del Callao" ("The Castles of Callao").

In 1806, the construction of a storage depot for arms, artillery and water to supply up to 2,000 soldiers for up to four months was carried out. 

On 21.01.1816, Admiral Guillermo Brown "Father of the Argentine Navy" blockaded the port of Callao, captured several Spanish boats and proceeded to bombard the port. However, they were soon repulsed by the coastal batteries of the fortress.

During 16.01.1819, the fortress repulsed an attack from Admiral Lord Thomas Cochrane. 

This incident forced General José de San Martín to invade Lima from Pisco.

Once the declaration of independence was decreed, General San Martín ordered to siege the fortress. The siege ended in 1821, when Spaniard General José de La Mar surrendered to Republican forces. 

However, the fortress was captured again by the Spaniards under Brigadier José Ramón Rodil y Campillo

Only in 1826would the fortress return to the Peruvians, after Brigadier Rodil y Campillo surrendered and ended the Second siege of Callao.

Commemorative Coin:

The Reverse of the One Sol Coin features the ruins of the "FORTELEZA DEL REAL FILIPE" in the centre. 

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

Inscribed towards the centre left periphery is the inscription - "FORTALEZA DEL REAL FELIPE. S. XVIII 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"Real Filipe Fortress or King Philip's Fortress"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.  





Links to Posts on Peru:














17) "Paracas Textiles/Textile Art of Paracas", Peru Cpin: "Riqueza y Orgullo del Peru" ("Wealth and Pride of Peru Coin Series"): A 1 (One) Sol Coin showcases the unique fenerary Textile Work/Art: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2013

18) "Real Filipe Fortress of "King Philip's Fortress", Peru: "Riqueza y Orgullo del Peru" (Wealth and Pride of Puru Coin Series"): A 1 (One) Sol Coin showcases the ruins of the fortified fortress: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2013

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. Rajan Trikha has commemted:
    "Very informative serial post 👍👍"

    ReplyDelete