3498) "Cuauhtémoc", Last ruler of the Aztecs, Cook Islands: 5 Dollars (Gold) & 20 Dollars (Silver) coins been minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprägeanstalt, at its facilities in Munich by commission of Coin Invest Trust - CIT, on behalf of the Treasury of the Cook Islands: Year of Coin issue: 2025:
Cuauhtémoc (also known as
Cuauhtemotzín, Guatimozín, or Guatémoc, was the Aztec ruler (tlatoani) of
Tenochtitlan from 1520 to 1521, making him the last Aztec Emperor.
The name
Cuauhtemōc means "one who has descended like an eagle", and is
commonly rendered in English as "Descending Eagle", as in the moment
when an eagle folds its wings and plummets down to strike its prey. This is a
name that implies aggressiveness and determination.
Cuauhtémoc took power in 1520 as successor of Cuitláhuac
and was a cousin of the late emperor Moctezuma II.
His young wife, who was
later known as Isabel Moctezuma, was one of Moctezuma's daughters.
He ascended
to the throne when he was around 25 years old, while Tenochtitlan was being
besieged by the Spanish and devastated by an epidemic of smallpox brought to
the Americas by Spanish conquerors. After the killings in the Great Temple,
there were a few Aztec captains available to take the position.
When Cuauhtemoc was elected tlatoani in 1520,
Tenochtitlan had already been rocked by the invasion of the Spanish and their
indigenous allies, the death of Moctezuma II, and the death of Moctezuma's
brother Cuitlahuac, who succeeded him as ruler, but died of smallpox shortly
afterwards.
In keeping with traditional practice, the most able candidate among
the high noblemen was chosen by vote of the highest noblemen, and Cuauhtemoc
assumed the rulership.
Although under Cuitlahuac Tenochtitlan began mounting
a defense against the invaders, it was increasingly isolated militarily and
largely faced the crisis alone, as the numbers of Spanish allies increased with
the desertion of many polities previously under its control.
Cuauhtémoc called for reinforcements from the countryside
to aid the defense of Tenochtitlán, after eighty days of warfare against the
Spanish.
Of all the Nahuas, only Tlatelolcas remained loyal, and the surviving
Tenochcas looked for refuge in Tlatelolco, where even women took part in the
battle.
Cuauhtémoc was captured on August 13, 1521, while fleeing Tenochtitlán
by crossing Lake Texcoco with his wife, family, and friends.
He surrendered to Hernán Cortés along with the surviving
pipiltin (nobles) and, according to Spanish sources, he asked Cortés to take
his knife and "strike me dead immediately".
According to the same Spanish accounts, Cortés
refused the offer and treated his foe magnanimously. "You have defended
your capital like a brave warrior," he declared. "A Spaniard knows
how to respect valour, even in an enemy."
Cuauhtémoc, the last ruler of the Aztecs, was a symbol of
unwavering resistance when Tenochtitlan fell – and he showed the world what it
means to fight to the end.
In 1521, he led the city’s defense against the
Spaniards under Hernán Cortés.
Even after their defeat, and despite torture, he
remained loyal to his people and did not betray the treasures of his people.
The mighty jaguar warriors, clad in magnificent skins, and the imposing eagle
warriors who watched over the battlefield fought alongside him.
These elite
warriors were the strongest in the Aztec army, distinguished by their
magnificent armour and impressive helmets.
The Coin:
These brave warriors are depicted on the 5 Dollars (Gold) & 20 Dollars (Silver) coins with their
characteristic symbols: the jaguar warrior with his magnificent fur and the
eagle warrior, surrounded by majestic feathers.
The image speaks for itself.
These symbols represent the eternal struggle to preserve life. The eye-catcher
of this proof coin is the partial gilding of the feather jewelry and
breastplate on the 3 oz edition.
The Obverse of the 20 Dollars (Silver) Coin also makes a powerful impression.
It reveals the majestic Templo Mayor, a central sanctuary of the Aztecs where
rituals were held to preserve cosmic harmony. In artistic high relief and
framed by the Aztec solar calendar, the coin tells of a time long past when
honor, sacrifice and cosmic balance defined the world.
The specifications of the Gold Coin are:
Year of Issue: 2025: "Coin Theme: ""Cuauhtémoc", Last ruler of the Aztecs""; Country: Cook Islands; Metal Composition: .9999 Fineness Gold (Au); Coin Quality: Proof (P); Denomination: $ 5.00 (Five Dollars); Coin Weight: 3.00 Ounce - oz; Dimensions/Size: 33.00 mm.
ii) The specifications of the Silver Coin are:
Year of Issue: 2025: Coin Series Theme: Coin Theme: "Cuauhtémoc", Last ruler of the Aztecs"; Country: Cook Islands; Metal Composition: .9999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Coin Quality: Proof (P); Denomination: $ 20.00 (Twenty Dollars); Coin Weight: 3.00 Ounce - oz; Mintage: 888 pieces; Dimensions/Size: 45.00 mm; Coating: Partly Gilded.
Other links to some interesting posts on Coins brought out by Coin Invest Trust on behalf of other countries including the Australian Continent:
Links to other posts on Metropolis Tiffany Art Coin Series:
i) Metropolis Tiffany Art Coin Series features Paris, the French Capital, Republic of Palau: Minted by: B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt GmbH at their facilities in Munich: Coin coordinated by: Coin Invest Trust (CIT): Year of Coin issue: 2021
ii) Tiffany Art Metropolis - The Cathedral of Notre Dame (Paris, France), Republic of Palau: "Tiffany Art Coin Series": Coin minted by : B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt GmbH at their facilities in Munich: Coin coordinated by: Coin Invest Trust (CIT) Year of Coin issue: 2021
iii) Tiffany Art Metropolis - Rome, the Capital of Italy, Republic of Palau: "Tiffany Art Coin Series": Coin minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt GmbH at their facilities in Munich: Coin coordinated by Coin Invest Trust (CIT): Year of Coin issue: 2022
iv) St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican (San Pietro in Vaticano), Republic of Palau: "Tiffany Art Metropolis Coin Series - San Pietro": Coin Invest Trust (CIT) has coordinated the issue of $500 (Gold) and $25 (Silver Coins minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt GmbH at their facilities in Munich: Year of Coin issue: 2022
v) Tiffany Art Metropolis - London, the Capital of England, Republic of Palau: "Tiffany Art Coin Series": Coin Minted By: B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt GmbH at their facilities in Munich: Coin Coordinated by Coin Invest Trust (CIT): Year of Coin issue: 2023
vi) Tiffany Art Metropolis - The Palace of Westminster, London, Republic of Palau: "Tiffany Art Coin Series": Coin minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt GmbH at their facilities in Munich: Coin Coordinated by Coin Invest Trust (CIT): Year of Coin issue: 2023
vii) Tiffany Art Metropolis - Seoul, The Capital of South Korea, Republic of Palau: "Tiffany Art Coin Series": Coin minted By: B.H.Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt GmbH at their facilities in Mucich: Coin Coordinated by Coin Invest Trust (CIT): Year of Coin issue: 2024
viii) Tiffany Art Metropolis, Seoul: The capital of South Korea, Republic of Palau: "Tiffany Art Series": "Gyeongbokgung Palace": Coin minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt at their facilities in Munich: Coin Coordinated By Coin Invest Trust: Year of Coin issue: 2024
Links:
The Punk Universe Banknote/Voucher & Coin Series:
Links to other Coins in the Cyborg Revolution Coin Series" issued in this Series:
Other links to some interesting posts on Coins brought out by Coin Invest Trust on behalf of other countries including the Australian Continent:
Steampunk Coin Series:
Links to other posts on Metropolis Tiffany Art Coin Series:
i) Metropolis Tiffany Art Coin Series features Paris, the French Capital, Republic of Palau: Minted by: B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt GmbH at their facilities in Munich: Coin coordinated by: Coin Invest Trust (CIT): Year of Coin issue: 2021
ii) Tiffany Art Metropolis - The Cathedral of Notre Dame (Paris, France), Republic of Palau: "Tiffany Art Coin Series": Coin minted by : B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt GmbH at their facilities in Munich: Coin coordinated by: Coin Invest Trust (CIT) Year of Coin issue: 2021
iii) Tiffany Art Metropolis - Rome, the Capital of Italy, Republic of Palau: "Tiffany Art Coin Series": Coin minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt GmbH at their facilities in Munich: Coin coordinated by Coin Invest Trust (CIT): Year of Coin issue: 2022
iv) St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican (San Pietro in Vaticano), Republic of Palau: "Tiffany Art Metropolis Coin Series - San Pietro": Coin Invest Trust (CIT) has coordinated the issue of $500 (Gold) and $25 (Silver Coins minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt GmbH at their facilities in Munich: Year of Coin issue: 2022
v) Tiffany Art Metropolis - London, the Capital of England, Republic of Palau: "Tiffany Art Coin Series": Coin Minted By: B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt GmbH at their facilities in Munich: Coin Coordinated by Coin Invest Trust (CIT): Year of Coin issue: 2023
vi) Tiffany Art Metropolis - The Palace of Westminster, London, Republic of Palau: "Tiffany Art Coin Series": Coin minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt GmbH at their facilities in Munich: Coin Coordinated by Coin Invest Trust (CIT): Year of Coin issue: 2023
vii) Tiffany Art Metropolis - Seoul, The Capital of South Korea, Republic of Palau: "Tiffany Art Coin Series": Coin minted By: B.H.Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt GmbH at their facilities in Mucich: Coin Coordinated by Coin Invest Trust (CIT): Year of Coin issue: 2024
The 7-Summits Silver Coin Series:
Links to some more posts on the Chinese Lunar calendar/Zodiac signs on this Blog:
New Year Lucky Coin Releases:
Koala Coin Series:
The Pink Panther (60th Anniversary):
The Tarot Card Collection:
11) "Wheel of Fortune", Tarot Cards, Niue Island: The Eleventh $2 (Two Dollars) Coin Card released by the New Zealand Mint on behalf of Niue Island: Year of Coin issue: 2023
12) "Justice", Tarot Cards, Niue Island: The Twelfth $2 (Two Dollars) Coin Card releasedby the New Zealand Mint on behalf of Niue Island: Year of Coin issue: 2023
13) "The Hanged Man", Tarot Cards, Niue Island: The Thirteenth $2 (Two Dollars) Coin Card released by the New Zealand Mint on behalf of Niue Island: Year of Coin issue: 2023
14) "Death", Tarot Cards, Niue Island: The Thirteenth $2 (Two Dollars) Coin Card in the Major Arcana released by the New Zealand Mint on behalf of Niue Island: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2023
15) "Temperance", Tarot Cards, Niue Island: The Fourteenth $2 (Two Dollars) Coin Card in the Major Arcana released by the New Zealand Mint on behalf of Niue Island: Year of Coin issue: 2023
Other Posts on James Bond movies/franchise on this blog:
i) A James Bond Mega issue by Royal Mail, UK, celebrating the 25th Bond Movie "No Time to Die" and presenting all six actors who have acted as James Bond over the years, together with "Q Branch's" path defining gadgets/machines; ii) A combo issue of Royal Mail Stamps and Royal Mint, UK's Gold, Silver and BU Coins
ii) Casino Royale Poker Chip Replica, Tuvalu: Perth Mint Australia has brought out $1 (One Dollar) Silver Bullion Coins that mark James Bond Day: Coins issued on behalf of Tuvalu: Date/Year of Coin issue: 04.010.2023
Links:
The Punk Universe Banknote/Voucher & Coin Series:
Links to other Coins in the Cyborg Revolution Coin Series" issued in this Series:
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