Coin Front & Back
As 9th coin of the series the "Fortaleza del Real Felipe" coin has been put into circulation on the 3rd of July 2012. The front shows the Fortress of Real Felipe in Callao built in Colonial times to defend the Peruvian coast and Lima's gateway to the world, the port of Callao. Today the fortress houses the Military History Museum.
At the beginning of the 17th century Lima was the economic center of the Spanish colonies in South America. The city flourished under the constant influx of gold and silver which indigenous people had to mine. Additionally by degree all riches "seized" in Latin America had to be shipped from Callao, Lima's port, back home. The wealth attracted many pirates. One of the best known, Sir Francis Drake attacked Lima's port Callao in 1579. Many others followed.
 The fortress Real Felipe, built to defend the Peruvian coast and the harbour of Callao, is the biggest and most impressive of all fortresses the Spanish crown erected overseas. |
 The fortress can be visited, but you have to join a guided tour available inside. Here you buy your entrance tickets. |
 inside the walls, hallways and towers of the Real Felipe Fortress a piece of Peruvian history has survived. |
 Since 1984 the fortress houses the museum of the Peruvian army. |
 The Real Felipe Fort was built between 1737 and 1774 to defend the harbor of Callao, the city of Lima and the Peruvian coast. |
 The Fortress Real Felipe has the shape of an irregular pentagon occupying an area auf 70.000 square meters |
 One of the entrances to the underground passageways at the Real Felipe Fort |
 The Casa del Gobernador (The Governor's House) within the walls of the Real Felipe Fortress. |
 Inside the Governor's House the actual museum is housed. |
 Here you find military objects, uniforms and weapons of Peruvian soldiers from all epochs. |
 Bronce bust of Tupac Amaru exhibited in the halls of the Real Felipe Fort in Callao |
 Weapons used during Colonial times and the Peruvian Independence are displayed at the Real Felipe Fortress. |
 Bronze busts of the heroes of the fight for Peruvian independence displayed at the Museum within the Real Felipe Fort. |
 At the Real Felipe Fort you find as well a lovely exhibition of Peruvian uniforms |
 Statue of the unknown Soldier within the walls of the Real Felipe Fortress. |
 Spread around the huge areal of the Real Felipe Fort you find canons of different epochs |
 Replica of the front part of the Casa Bolognesi, also known as Casa de la Respuesta (House of the Answer). The original house is located in Arica in today's Chile. During the War of the Pacific Arica was still Peruvian territory and the house served as the headquarters for the Peruvian troops defending the city. On the 5th of June 1880 Francisco Bolognesi made following statement to a Chilean messanger: "Tell your officer in command that I have a sacred duty to fulfill, Arica does not surrender, I feel proud of my men and we will fight until we burn the last round." |
 The Torreon del Rey (the Tower of the King) occupies one corner of the pentagonal fortress. |
 In case the Fortress would have been taken, the Tower of the King was additionally protected by a ditch and drawbidge. |
 On top of the tower powerful canons didn't give attackers a chance. |
 What a view from the top of the Torreon del Rey. In the back is the San Lorenzo Island. The Real Felipe Fortress was built using blocks of rocks cut from the island as well as stones from the old Callao city wall. These were "cemented" together with egg white. |
 The Fortress was named after Felipe V of Spain. |
After a devastating earthquake and tsunami destroyed Lima's city wall works on a huge fortress began in 1747 which in the future should defend the harbor of Callao, the city of Lima and the Peruvian coast. Completed in 1774 the fortress is the biggest and most impressive of all fortresses the Spanish crown erected overseas and is named after Felipe V of Spain. In 1782 two additional forts were added.
In early Republican times the Fortress of Real Felipe was used as a political prison, than with a short interruption during the War of the Pacific, until 1955 as Callao's custom house. Since 1984 the fortress houses the Military History Museum. Inside its walls, hallways and towers a piece of Peruvian history has survived.
The back of the coin shows in the center part the Peruvian Coat of Arms surrounded by the writing Central Reserve Bank of Peru (Banco Central de Reserva del Perú) and the year of issue. This side of the coin is nearly identical to the previous issued S /. 1.00 coins that have been in circulation.
