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Saturday, 30 December 2023

3132) "Sacred City of Caral-Supe" (or "Caral")", Peru: "Riqueza y Orgullo del Peru” ("Wealth and Pride of Peru Coin Series"): A 1 (One) Sol Coin showcases the Archeological buildings: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2014:

3132) "Sacred City of Caral-Supe" (or "Caral")", Peru: "Riqueza y Orgullo del Peru” ("Wealth and Pride of Peru Coin Series"): A 1 (One) Sol Coin showcases the Archeological buildings: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2014:

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 "Sacred City of Caral-Supe" in 2014 in its Wealth and Pride series of collectors’ coins.

"Sacred City of Caral-Supe":

The Sacred City of Caral-Supe, (or simply "Caral", is an archaeological site in Peru where the remains of the main city of the Caral civilisation are found

It is located in the Supe valley of Peru, near the current town of Caral, 182 kilometers North of Lima, 23 km from the coast and 350 metres above sea level.

It is attributed an antiquity of 5,000 years and it is considered the oldest city in the Americas and one of the oldest in the world. No other site has been found with such a diversity of monumental buildings or different ceremonial and administrative functions in the Americas as early as Caral. 

It has been declared a Humanity Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO.

The Caral culture developed between 3000 and 1800 B.C (Late Archaic and Lower Formative periods)

In America, it is the oldest of the pre-Hispanic civilizations, developing 1,500 years earlier than the Olmec civilization, the first Mesoamerican complex society.

Closely related to the city of Caral was an early fishing city, Áspero or El Áspero, located on the coast near the mouth of the Supe River. There, remains of human sacrifices (two children and a newborn) have been found. 

In 2016, the remains were found of a woman, who presumably belonged to the local elite of 4,500 years ago.

Caral was inhabited between approximately 26th century BC and 20th century BC, and the site includes an area of more than 60 hectares (150 acres).

Caral has been described by its excavators as the oldest urban center in the Americas.  Accommodating more than 3,000 inhabitants, Caral is the best studied and one of the largest sites known of the Norte Chico civilisation.

The city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009

Caral is the largest recorded site in the Andean region, with dates older than 2000 BC. It appears to be the model for the urban design adopted by Andean civilizations that rose and fell over the span of four millennia. Scholars believe that research conducted in Caral may answer questions about the origins of the Andean civilisation.

Archaeological findings:

In 1948, the site received little attention at the time because it appeared to lack many of the typical artifacts that were sought at archaeological sites throughout the Andes.

In 1975, a detailed record of most of the archaeological sites of the valley of Supe, was presented including that of Caral. 

Based on what was observed in the region, some ideas about the development of architecture in the Andes emerged.

The city was further explored which dated some 4,000-to 4,600 in the Peruvian desert, with its elaborate complex of temples, an amphitheater, and ordinary houses.

The urban complex is spread out over 150 hectares (370 acres) and contains plazas and residential buildings. 

Caral was a thriving metropolis at roughly the same time as the great pyramids were being built in Egypt, which is considered one of the earliest civilisations in the world.

Adds the Book titled - 'TREASURES OF THE WORLD", a UNESCO publication which lists UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

" The Sacred City of Caral-Supe reflests the rise of civilisation in the Americas. As a fully developed state of the third millennium BC, it is remarkable for its social and political complexity and its impact on developing settlements throughout the Sue Valley and beyond.

Exceptionally well preserved, Caral is one of eighteen urban settlements situated in the same area and features complex architectural and spatial elements - in particular, its monumental earthen platform mounds and sunken circular courts are powerful expressions of a consolidated state.

These features were to influence and dominate much of the Peruvian coast for centuries.

The city's plan and some of its components, including pyramidical structures and residence of the elite, show clear evidence of ceremonial functions, signifying a powerful religious ideology."

" The 5000-year-old, 0.7 sq. km archeological site of Caral-Supe stands on a dry desert terrace overlooking the green valley of the Supe River.

The city was a centre of the Norte Chico civilisation, calimed to be the oldest known civilisation in the Americas and one of the oldest in the World."

Commemorative Coin:

The Reverse of the One Sol Coin features the ruins of the "Sacred City of Caral-Supe" 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 - "CIUDAD SAGRADA. S. XXX - XIX a.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 - "2014".

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"SACRED CITY OF CARAL-SUPE"Coin Quality: Circulation Commemorative Coin; Date/Year of Coin issue: 26.11.2013; 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;  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

19) "Tunanmarca" or "Tunan Marca" or "Siquillapucara", Peru: "Riqueza y Orgullo del Peru" ("Wealth and Pride of Peru Coin Series"): A 1 (One) Sol coin showcases the Tunanmarca Archeological Complex/Buildings: Date/Year of Coin issue: 26.11.2023

20) "Sacred City of Caral-Supe" (or "Caral"), Peru" Riqueza y Orgullo del Peru" ("Wealth and Pride of Peru Coin Series"): A 1 (One) Sol Coin showcases the Archeological buildings: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2014

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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