The Heroes of the Pacific War (1879–1883) – Elías Aguirre and Alfonso Ugarte

ByDirk Wasserthal
Peruvian commemorative coins honoring the heroes of the Pacific War Elias Aguirre and Alfonso Ugarte from 1979, featuring portraits of the two officers as well as the reverse side of the 50 Mil Soles de Oro gold coin.

The Heroes of the Pacific War (1879–1883) – Elías Aguirre and Alfonso Ugarte

The Pacific War between Peru, Bolivia, and Chile (1879–1883) is considered one of the most formative events in Peruvian national history. During this period, individuals emerged whose courage, loyalty, and willingness to sacrifice remain part of the country’s historical memory to this day. Among them are Elías Aguirre Romero and Alfonso Ugarte , two men who became symbols of bravery and patriotism during the war.

Elias Aguirre – Naval officer, scholar and fallen soldier of Angamos

Elías Aguirre Romero was born in Chiclayo in 1843 and joined the Peruvian Navy as a teenager. After his training, he served on various ships and participated in the Battle of Abtao in 1866, for which he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and awarded the title “Benemérito de la Patria” (Benefactor of the Fatherland).

Alongside his military career, Aguirre was also interested in science and published nautical translations and studies. During the Pacific War, he returned to active service and served on the legendary monitor Huáscar under Miguel Grau.

After Grau’s death at the Battle of Angamos (October 8, 1879), Aguirre took command – a few moments later he too fell in battle. Today he is considered one of the central figures of the Peruvian naval hero myth. His mortal remains have rested in the Crypt of Heroes since 1908.

Alfonso Ugarte – entrepreneur, volunteer and defender of Arica

Alfonso Ugarte (1847–1880) came from a wealthy merchant family and was active in trade and the nitrate industry before the war. When the conflict broke out in 1879, he consciously chose not to flee abroad. Instead, he dedicated his own fortune to national defense , financed a battalion, and personally participated in the battles of San Francisco and Tarapacá.

Ugarte became famous for his death in the Battle of Arica (June 7, 1880) . To prevent the national flag from falling into enemy hands, he rode – according to tradition – with the flag in his hand from the hill into the depths below. This image became one of the most powerful symbols of Peruvian military history.

Gold coins from Peru – the “Heroes of the Pacific War” series

To commemorate the national heroes of the war years, Peru issued a special series of gold coins at the end of the 1970s:
“Heroes of the Pacific War”

These coins honor important figures in Peruvian history and combine historical remembrance with numismatic collecting culture. High-quality minting, classic portrait design, and limited mintages make these issues attractive to collectors of discerning gold coins to this day.

From our selection:

Other issues in the series:

  • 50,000 Soles de Oro – F. García Calderón (1979)

  • 100,000 Soles de Oro – Francisco Bolognesi (1979)

  • 100,000 Soles de Oro – Andrés A. Cáceres (1979)

  • 100,000 Soles de Oro – Miguel Grau (1979)

These coins are not only historical mementos, but also culturally significant numismatic documents of Peru.

Further information and gold coins from Peru

If you would like to delve deeper into gold coins from the Lima Mint and Peruvian numismatics, we recommend:

If you have any questions about the gold coins from Peru or the “Heroes of the Pacific War” series, we will be happy to advise you personally.

Gold coins from Peru combine a rich history with exciting modern numismatics. In our shop, you will find a selection of Peruvian gold collector coins that impress with both their designs and their often limited availability. If you are looking for a specific Peruvian gold collector coin that is not currently in our assortment, please contact us – we will gladly check individually whether we can find and procure the desired issue for you.

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