New commemorative coin of Colombia on sale: only a few available from now on in several cities

June 29, 2023

With a new commemorative coin of Colombia, the Banco de la Republica highlights the Naval Battle of Lake Maracaibo and the man who commanded it, the soldier José Padilla López. The nominal value is $10.000 COP, around $2,40 USD and it is available at Banco de la Republica’s counters.

commemorative coin, naval battle of lake Maracaibo, admiral Padilla, ten thousand pesos, Banco de la República, Más Colombia

Following the trail of history through coins and other objects used as currency is an interest that is gaining strength, due to the launching of commemorative coins and the good deal that can be traded with these and other pieces. The Banco de la Republica launches today the commemorative coin of the Naval Battle of Lake Maracaibo, in the hope of spreading a part of our history and encouraging a passion for numismatics.

This is the tenth commemorative coin of Colombia minted by the Banco de la Republica and made available to the public only once, “in compliance with Law 2012 of December 30, 2019,” says the national monetary institution.

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This is the commemorative coin of Colombia: Naval Battle of Lake Maracaibo

On this occasion, the obverse of the commemorative coin of Colombia that has recently been launched by the Banco de la Republica contains the portrait of Admiral José Padilla López, a memorable character who “on July 24, 1823, defeated the Spanish Royal Navy in the battle of Lake Maracaibo, thus consolidating Colombia’s independence”. Padilla encouraged his men with the phrase “To die or to be free” before going into battle, according to the Colombian central bank.

This composition is surrounded in the upper part by a typographic set that, written in small caps, reads “200 years of the Naval Battle of the Lake of Maracaibo”. In the lower part, the date declared as the Colombian Navy Day, “July 24 Colombian Navy Day”, can be read, along with the period “1823-2023”.

ya esta a la venta la nueva moneda conmemorativa de colombia la puede comprar desde hoy en varias ciudades y hay pocas 1 — Obverse of the commemorative coin of Colombia on the 200th anniversary of the Naval Battle of Lake Maracaibo

Like the old coins or banknotes, these commemorative coins of Colombia take on a value greater than the nominal value and can eventually be exchanged for an amount much greater than the amount minted on their reverse side, which is $10,000 Colombian pesos.

On the coin, this value marks a centrality over the coat of arms of the Navy of the Republic of Colombia, while suggesting a circle on its sides that encloses “Republic of Colombia” underneath. On the sides of the shield, one can read the year in which it was minted “2023” and a security element that reveals the initials of the Banco de la Republica if viewed from one side, or the Arabic numeral “10” if viewed from the other side.

ya esta a la venta la nueva moneda conmemorativa de colombia la puede comprar desde hoy en varias ciudades y hay pocas 2 — Reverse of the commemorative coin of Colombia on the 200th Anniversary of the Naval Battle of Lake Maracaibo.

With a diameter of 35 millimeters and composed of an alloy of copper (65%±2), nickel (15%±2), and zinc (20%±2), the coin will be on sale from today until the 200,000 units available are sold out.

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How to get the Naval Battle of Lake Maracaibo Coin

Those interested in acquiring the commemorative coin of Colombia must request an appointment at the Bank’s authorized locations, which are the Banco de la Republica’s Treasury windows in Bogota, branches, and cultural agencies throughout the country.

Citizens may purchase up to three units of this coin, which is legal tender. As such, it may be used for any transaction for the equivalent of its nominal value.

This piece will be delivered with an informative folder and for those who wish to purchase it with its special case, they will have to pay $19,000 COP, around $4,55 dollars.

The Banco de la Republica collection

The Banco de la Republica’s commemorative coin minting work is not recent. With today’s launch, the central bank completes in its collection ten designs that highlight certain moments and characters that have been decisive for the history of our country.

This initiative is empowered by Law 31 of 1992, under which the Banco de la Republica may “provide for the minting in the country or abroad of legal tender coins for commemorative or numismatic purposes, as provided for in special laws, establish their alloys and determine their characteristics”.

In its collection are, although no longer available for sale, the following coins: Silver coin of the Fifth centenary of the discovery of America, of $10,000 pesos; the First centenary of the birth of Doctor Mariano Ospina Pérez, of $50,000 pesos gold; the first centenary of the birth of Doctor Mariano Ospina Pérez, of $100,000 pesos gold; the saint mother Laura Montoya Upegui, of $5,000 pesos; the bicentennial of the independence of Cundinamarca, of $5,000 pesos; the one-hundredth anniversary of the Colombian Air Force, of $10,000 pesos; and the commemorative coin of the bicentennial of the sacrifice of the national heroine Policarpa Salavarrieta, of $10,000 pesos.

Also still available are the Banco de la Republica’s 50th Anniversary commemorative gold coin of $1,500 gold pesos, and the Bicentennial of the Independence of Colombia, of $10,000 pesos. For more information, please click here.