The 1968 Chile 10 Peso Liberation Fleet Commemorative Silver bullion Coin?

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” Blackbirds tend to like shiny objects” ~ The Bloody Raven

Now this huge one and a half ounce Toner coin is my latest pride and joy as it was finally scratched of my Wish List for a long time and joins my little fleet. With so much about the background of this coin I am not sure where to start?

The Historical Background

It is the era following the Napoleonic war and the overextended and depleted Spain had their hands full with many of her colonies now vying for independence throughout the Spanish empire. Peru and Chile are some of the final Royalist strongholds against Independence. The Spanish Viceroy of Peru remains a holdout with his Royalist army forces reduced to Guerilla tactics and still with a formidable Spanish Squadron under his authority.

In 1818 the Insurgent Chilean leader Bernardo O'Higgins appoints former British Naval officer Thomas Cochrane, as Vice-Admiral to take command of the fledgling Chilean navy and organizes Chile’s first Naval Squadron. The Squadron were three ships; the flagship frigate O'Higgins, frigate Lautaro and a Corvette Independecia.

1968So Chile 10 Old Peso1 Obverse: Arrival of Liberation Fleet in 1820 0.999 Fine Silver, 45g 45mm diameter, 4mm thick Low Mintage of 1,215

Bullion coin defined; a bullion coin is a coin struck from precious metal and kept as a store of value or an investment, rather than used in day-to-day commerce.

This 10 peso coin could arguably be the first modern government backed silver bullion coin of pure 0.999 Fine Silver but not indicated on the coin. All other coins made prior are alloyed with copper to improve against wear and tear while in circulation.

While back in 1949, the Mexican Onza may be officially the first bullion coin that has 1 troy oz. of silver but as 0.925 silver as a 33.6g like a circulating coin, however the 'first' 0.999 fine silver Libertad bullion coin wasn’t until 1982. It goes to show Bullion standards can vary slightly from country to country.

Other than Specific orders, Cochrane's Squadron regularly raided and harrassed Royalist positions and centers as brilliantly performed under the British Admiralty against France and Spain in the past. In February 1820 a Night assault by a small Chilean force 300 under Cochrane’s command captured the 1,600 soldier garrisoned Spanish stronghold of Valdivia Chile denying the Royalist a vital safe port of resupply.

1968So 10 Peso (Old Peso 1835-1980)1 Reverse: Republic of Chile Coat of Arms, 10 Pesos (Old 1835-1980 Peso)So , “S” with a halo, Minted in Santiago Reference KM# 193 Reeded edge

Later that year on November 1820 in Callao Peru, after a long cessation of fighting the situation then settled into an effective blockade as the Spanish squadron shelters in the harbor into a defensive posture protected by battery emplacements and gunship support. Again, in his same daring, audacious and maverick style, Vice Admiral Cochrane personally leads a column of 14 long boats with 240 men in the night time capture of the Peruvian Viceroy’s most powerful Spanish warship the 44 gun, 950 ton, Esmerelda along with 2 Gunboats with only a loss of 11 men with himself among the 22 wounded.

And for my friends who are into the Banknotes.

1981 Central Bank of Chile 50 Pesos1 Front: Captain Arturo Prat of the Steamship Esmeralda Printed by Casa de Moneda de Chile(Chilean Mint) Est 1743 Front: Pick# 151, F# 128

1Back: Arrival of the Liberation Fleet

Cochrane directs the crew to sail the captured Esmerelda out of the harbor while under fire. Meanwhile, two other neutral ships in harbor; USS Macedonian and the HMS Hyperion were hastening just to get out of the way. With the darkness and confusion of three ships underway some batteries fired upon the wrong ship. A mistake that may have had political consequences for the Viceroy. Cochrane and his men successfully capture the Esmerelda. Cochrane renames his prize to the Valdivia to commemorate the success of capturing the Royalist stronghold.

Historians like Brian Vale, and David Cubitt agree, the loss of the Flagship Esmerelda and the vital Port of Valdiva , Spain loses control of Peru and Chile.

And thus Chile commemorates the defeat of the Spanish navy at Callao and the Viceroy of Peru in 1820.

Bonus coin1 1907 Chile 20 Centavos, 0.500 Fine Silver, 4g, KM# 151.2

Admiral Thomas Cochrane

Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald was born at Annsfield, Scotland in December 1775. Yes he is Scottish, an accomplished officer I'm sure that Captain @joshuaslane would be proud of.

In 1793 Thomas joined the royal Navy at age 17. In 1800 He was given his command of a 14 Gun Sloop the HMS Speedy in over the course of the next 13 months successfully destroyed or captured 53 ships before he was captured by French line ships.

Left: Admiral Thomas Cochrane Painted by James Ramsay under Public DomainWRight: The First Chilean Navy Painted by Thomas Somerscales under Public Domain

Upon his return to the Royal Navy he was promoted and continued an extraordinary string of achievements, on many vessels, serving five different countries. This Officer is the stuff of adventure movies like the film Master and Commander, Russel Crow’s Character, Captain Jack Aubrey is said to be modeled after Admiral Cochrane.

While his brief political career was controversial, his life is what I can best describe in his naval career as extraordinary, adventurous, daring, even chivalrous, and contentious especially with authority, but always a consistently brilliant and resourceful naval officer. At the age of 85, Lord Thomas Cochrane Tenth Earl of Dundonald of Paisley dies Oct 31 1860, is interred at Westminster Abbey and has been memorialized in every country he served for.

I hope you enjoyed this coin feature, thank you for stopping by for a read.

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References

1. My own pictures shot with a Samsung SM-A530W P. Image under PixabayR. Clip art from 123RF W. Wiki Commons

Sources & further Reference

Numista: 10 Pesos Arrival of Liberation Fleet Wiki: Admiral Thomas Cochrane Britannica: Admiral Thomas Cochrane The Capture of Valdiva The Capture of the Esmerelda Reuters: Thomas Cochrane Master and Commander Chilean Captain Arturo Prat

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“Et lux in tenebris to serve laboro, sum sicarius” “I work in the shadows to serve the Light, I am an Assassin”

Condor By wladmir rupcich Pixabay