REPUBLIC OF CHILE ONLY 965 MINTED
SESQUICENTENNIAL OF SAN MARTÍN'S PASSAGE THROUGH THE ANDES MOUNTAINS (1817-1967)
GOLD 200 PESO COIN CERTIFIED BY NGC PROOF CONDITION
(SLIGHT SCRATCH ON BACK SIDE AT BOTTOM ON THIS OTHERWISE GEM PROOF COIN)
OBV: NATIONAL ARMS.
REV: SAN MARTIN AND OFFICER ON HORESEBACK TRAVELLING THROUGH PASS WITH CAVALRYMEN FOLLOWING BEHIND RIGHT, MOUNTAINS IN BACKGROUND (SCENE FROM THE PAINTING BY VILA PRADES).
DON JOSÉ DE SAN MARTÍN (1778-1850) IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE GREAT LIBERATORS OF SOUTH AMERICA AND WAS THE GENERAL AND LEADER OF THE SOUTHERN LANDS OF SOUTH AMERICA IN THEIR STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE FROM SPANISH COLONIAL RULE.
BORN IN ARGENTINA, HE FOUGHT AGAINST NAPOLEON IN SPAIN, BUT FROM 1812 ON, WAS A LEADER IN THE FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE.
AFTER CREATION OF THE ARMY OF THE ANDES IN CHILE, SAN MARTÍN, AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF, LED THE ARMY IN "THE CROSSING OF THE ANDES" TO COMPLETELY SURPRISE THE ROYALISTS IN LIMA.THE ARMY OF THE VICEROYALTY OF PERÚ WAS DEFEATED AT THE BATTLE OF CHACABUCO AFTER THE CROSSING, AND DESTROYED AT THE BATTLE OF MAIPÚ IN 1818.
THE CROSSING TOOK 21 DAYS OVER 500 KILOMETERS OF TREACHEROUS MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPE, AND AT A LOSS OF A THIRD OF THE 4,000 SOLDIERS AND 1,200 AUXILIARRIES WITH THE ARMY.
CONTAINS 40.6794 GRAMS OF .900 FINE GOLD (1.177 OZ AGW)
40 MM IN DIAMETER
ONLY 965 MINTED!
SANTIAGO MINT
