Peru – 1979 – 50,000 soles – Elias Aguirre – 1/2oz gold – NGC MS67

This Peruvian gold coin from 1979 was issued in honor of Elías Aguirre and belongs to the “Heroes of the Pacific War” series. Aguirre was a prominent Peruvian naval officer and is considered one of the historical figures of the Pacific War in Peru. This issue thus combines the character of a high-quality gold coin with a clear historical commemoration.

The coin has a face value of 50,000 Soles de Oro and was minted as a non-circulating gold commemorative coin. It is made of .917 fine gold and weighs 16.970 g. The coin itself also bears the inscription “1/2 Onza Troy Oro 0.9166”, clearly identifying it as a Peruvian 1/2-ounce gold issue.

The front shows the portrait of Elías Aguirre with the inscription “Año de nuestros héroes de la Guerra del Pacífico”, the year of issue 1979 and the name “Elías Aguirre”. The reverse shows the national coat of arms of Peru, the inscription “Banco Central de Reserva del Perú”, the face value “Cincuenta Mil Soles de Oro” and the gold inscription “1/2 Onza Troy Oro 0.9166”.

Of particular interest to collectors is the NGC certification with the high grade MS67. This classification signifies an exceptionally well-preserved uncirculated coin with a very strong overall appearance. Especially with modern Latin American gold commemorative coins, such a high numerical grade is an important quality factor, as many pieces, while nominally uncirculated, are not certified at this high level of preservation.

The mintage of this issue was limited to only 10,000 pieces. Combined with its historical theme, 1/2-ounce format, .917 gold fineness, issuance by the Banco Central de Reserva del Perú, and NGC grade MS67, this makes it an interesting collector’s item for enthusiasts of Latin American gold coins, historical commemorative issues, and certified modern gold issues.

This 50,000-sole gold coin is therefore particularly suitable for collectors who, in addition to classic European or South African gold coins, are also looking for rarer international issues with a historical background. Peru is significantly less present in the field of modern gold commemorative coins than many major minting nations, which is why high-quality certified specimens like this one are only available in limited quantities on the market.

Technical data

Country: Peru
Year: 1979
Face value: 50,000 Soles de Oro
Subject: Elias Aguirre
Series: Heroes of the Pacific War
Coin type: Non-circulating coin / Commemorative coin
Metal: Gold
Fineness: .917
Weight: 16,970 g
Gold content on the coin: 1/2 Onza Troy Oro 0.9166
Diameter: 27 mm
Shape: Round
Edge: Rebated
Print run: 10,000 copies
Mint: Lima Mint
Issuer: Banco Central de Reserva del Perú
Catalog reference: KM-278
Certification: NGC MS67
NGC Cert: 3355686-001