Banco de la República (the Central Bank of Colombia) launches the commemorative coin of the Battle of Lake Maracaibo

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Commemorative coin of the Battle of Lake Maracaibo and the Declaration of 24 July as the Colombian Navy Day - Available to the public as of 21 June 2023
This coin is minted for commemorative purposes in compliance with Law 2012 of 30 December 2019. It will be available to the public as of 21 June 2023.
Publication Date:
Tuesday, 20 June 2023
17:31

As of 21 June, Banco de la República will make available to the public the coin of the Battle of Lake Maracaibo. In addition, July 24 will be declared Colombian Navy Day.

This new coin, minted for commemorative purposes and for the only time, has on its obverse side the image of Admiral José Padilla López, who, on 24 July 1823, defeated the Royal Spanish Navy in the Battle of Lake Maracaibo, thus consolidating the independence of Colombia. 

On its left side, the inscription  "ALMIRANTE JOSÉ PADILLA LÓPEZ" (ADMIRAL JOSÉ PADILLA LÓPEZ) and the phrase "Morir o ser libres” (To die or be free), which was a proclamation to his men before the historic battle started. Moreover, the following inscriptions are included on the obverse: "200 AÑOS DE LA BATALLA NAVAL DEL LAGO DE MARACAIBO” (Two centuries of the battle of Lake Maracaibo), "24 DE JULIO DÍA DE LA ARMADA DE COLOMBIA” (July 24, Colombian Navy day), and "1823-2023", in accordance with the historical commemoration described in the Law. Finally, the coin includes the image of a ship with its sails unfurled, sailing the ocean.

The reverse side incorporates the coat of arms of the Navy of the Republic of Colombia, which contains three equal stripes with the emblems of the national coat of arms of Colombia inside them: two cornucopias and a pomegranate, the Phrygian cap, and the image of the two oceans of Colombia. It is also inscribed with the following elements: i) the words “REPÚBLICA DE COLOMBIA” (REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA); ii) “2023”, the mintage year; iii) the denomination of COP$10,000; and iv) a latent image as a security feature that, depending on the angle from which it is viewed, will reflect the initials "BR" (which stands for Banco de la República)  or the Arabic numeral "10."

It is a silver-colored coin with a copper, nickel, and zinc alloy and will have an approximate size of 35 millimeters in diameter and a face value of COP$10,000. The coin may only be purchased (maximum three coins per user) at Banco de la República’s Treasury counters in Bogota and at its branches and Cultural Agencies nationwide, upon requesting an appointment through the web page www.banrep.gov.co until out of stock.