Iberian culture celebrated with a nine-country silver coin set crossing two continents

One we missed  a little while ago but definitely worth noting, Spain has issued the eleventh in its long-running Ibero-American series of proof silver coins. Released sporadically (usually every 2-3 years) since 1991, each set comprises a collection of coins from a range of countries that have been influenced by the culture of Spain and Portugal. Participating countries are not always the same each time, but the set takes the unusual step of having the national emblems of all the countries involved on the obverse of every coin, with the main centre space given over to the specific country issuing each piece. A novel concept in itself, the Spanish Mint claims it’s unique in the history of national coinage.

Each set has an encompassing theme and this time it’s natural wonders. There are plenty to choose from in some of these quite beautiful countries and for the most part the subjects are well chosen. There doesn’t appear to be tightly controlled design style – five coins have borders of two different styles – and five do not. Some are fully coloured, some highlighted and some clean. Particular highlights for us are the beautiful Peruvian and Cuban coins, both bird images, and the quite superb medallion with its modernist imagery.

The set sels for €360 and has a mintage of 10,000. Each coin follows the old Spanish-American 4-Reales coin format of 13.5 grams weight and 33 mm diameter, so the set contains a total of around 4½ ounces of silver. Available now.

COINS IN THIS SET

Argentina 25 pesos  Serranías de Hornocal

Cuba 5 pesos  Valley of Viñales

Ecuador 1 sucre  Cotopaxi National Park

Spain 5 euros  Beach of Cathedrals

Guatemala 1 quetzal  Atitlán Lake

Nicaragua 10 cordoba Momotombo Volcano

Paraguay 1 guarani Monday Falls

Peru 1 sol Colca Canyon

Portugal 7.5 escudos Madeira

Medallion no denomination Symbolic

PREVIOUS SETS

I / 1991 – Quincentennial of the discovery of the Americas (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela), (27 g, 40 mm 0.925)

II / 1996 – Endangered native animal species (Argentina, Cuba, Ecuador, Spain, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Portugal and Uruguay), (27 g, 40 mm 0.925)

III / 1998 – Ibero-American dances and costumes (Argentina, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Uruguay, and Paraguay), (27 g, 40 mm 0.925)

IV / 2000 – Man and the horse (Argentina, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and Uruguay), (27 g, 40 mm 0.925)

V / 2002 – Nautical tradition (Argentina, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, and Spain), (27 g, 40 mm 0.925)

VI / 2005 – Architecture and monuments (Argentina, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, and Spain), (27 g, 40 mm 0.925)

VII / 2008 – Ibero-american countries in the Olympics (Argentina, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Portugal and Spain), (27 g, 40 mm 0.925)

VIII / 2010 – Historical Ibero-American coins (Cuba, Spain, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru and Portugal), (27 g, 40 mm 0.925)

IX / 2013 – 20th Anniversary (Cuba, Spain, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, and Portugal), (27 g, 40 mm 0.925)

X / 2015 – Cultural roots (Argentina, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, and Spain), (13.5 g, 33 mm 0.925)

XI / 2017 – Natural wonders (Argentina, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, and Spain), (13.5 g, 33 mm 0.925)

2017 IBERO-AMERICAN SERIES XI SILVER COIN SET

MINTS DESCRIPTION

In 1991 fourteen countries of Ibero-American origin agreed to the minting of a coin in common, initiating the significant cultural and numismatic project that is the IBERO-AMERICAN COIN SERIES.

With a maximum mint run of 10,000 units, the complete set is made up of nine coins and a commemorative medal, all minted in 925 thousandth sterling silver.

A feature peculiar to these series is that each participating country allows its own national coat-of-arms to be reproduced and portrayed on the coins of the remaining countries, a never-before-seen circumstance in twenty-five centuries of Numismatic History.

The obverse sides of the coins feature the national coat-of-arms of the issuing country surrounded by the coats-of-arms of the other participating nations in alphabetical order, Argentina, Cuba, Ecuador, Spain, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru and Portugal.

This Eleventh Ibero-American Coin Series is dedicated to “WONDERS OF NATURE”. In this year, the series brings together original colour designs alluding to the theme including, the natural arches and caves at the beach of the Cathedrals on the Spanish coin, Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, Momotombo volcano in Nicaragua or Monday River Waterfalls in Paraguay.

All the pieces in the collection including the medal have been allocated the metrics of the so-called 4-reales, ancient coins minted on both Spain and American mints, so they have a weight of 13.5 grams and 33 mm diameter.

SPECIFICATION

NAME 2017 IBERO-AMERICAN SERIES
DENOMINATION Varies per coin
COMPOSITION 0.925 silver
WEIGHT 13.5 grams
DIAMETER 33.00 mm
FINISH Proof
MODIFICATIONS Some colour
MINTAGE 10,000 sets
BOX / COA Yes / Yes
REAL CASA DE LA MONEDA ESTORE