| Coin | Silver Ounce 2019 Nautical Ounce - Victoria |
|---|
|
The Rwandan Franc was introduced as the currency of Rwanda in 1964. Apart from its regular circulating coinage, the country has also authorised some foreign mints to issue coins under its jurisdiction, which come in a variety of sizes - including in the internationally popular silver ounce (1 oz silver) format, denominated usually as 50 Francs. Like any bullion coin though, their actual value is unrelated to the face value, and is based primarily on the metal content and the spot price of that metal on the commodities markets.
This coin is part of the Rwandan Nautical Ounce series which features a new reverse design every year, and commemorates the 500th anniversary of the Spanish carrack Victoria.
The Victoria was part of a Spanish expedition commanded by Ferdinand Magellan, which began on 20th September 1519 in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. The Victoria was the only ship to complete the voyage, returning on 6th September 1520. All other four ships sunk trying the circumnavigation of the globe.
The Victoria was built by the Basques, one of the most reputed shipbuilders at the time, at the shipyard in the Spanish city of Ondarroa. The ship was named after Santa Maria de la Victoria de Triana, the church where Magellan took an oath of allegiance to the Spanish King, Charles I (Holy Roman Emperor as Charles V). |
| Mint | B. H. Mayer |
Mint Mark | No mint mark |
Total Mintage | unknown |
|
| Obverse | |
|---|
Within a plain rim, the obverse of the coin features the Coat of Arms of Rwanda. At its centre is a traditional basket, surrounded by the central tribal devices: a stem of sorghum on the left, and a branch of a coffee tree on the right, surmounted on a cog wheel with the sun with its rays above. These are protected by two typical Rwandan shields, one on the right and one on the left. The design is encircled by a rope, tied below in a square knot.
On a ribbon above, REPUBULIKA Y'U RWANDA (Republic of Rwanda); on a ribbon below, the motto UBUMWE · UMURIMO · GUKUNDA IGIHUGU (Unity, Work, Patriotism in Kinyarwanda - the official Rwandan language).
Around above, the name of the issuing authority: BANKI NKURU Y'U RWANDA (National Bank of Rwanda; in French: Banque Nationale du Rwanda; abbreviated as BNR).
Around below, the face value AMAFARANGA 50 MIRONGO ITANU (50 FRW - fifty Rwandan Francs). |
|
|
| Reverse | |
|---|
The reverse design depicts Ferdinand Magellan's ship Victoria at full sail.
Above right, a compass rose (sometimes called a "wind rose") showing the main directions, with "rhumb lines" radiating from it into the background of the design. In an oval above the ship, encircled by a rope, navigational instruments of the time: spyglass, compass and sextant.
On the waves below, the name of the ship: Victoria.
Around left, the name of the coin series: NAUTICAL OUNCE.
Around above right, the date of issue 2019. Around below right, facing outward, the precious metal content: 1 oz FINE SILVER 999 (one troy ounce of 99.9% silver). |
|
| Reverse Inscription |
NAUTICAL OUNCE 2019 1 oz FINE SILVER 999 Victoria |
|---|
|
| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
|
| Notes | Finish: bullion (Brilliant Uncirculated).
Packaging: sealed in plastic foil branded for BNR (National Bank of Rwanda); multiples of 10 come in sheets of unbroken foils. |
|---|
|
| See also |
Coins in the Nautical Ounce series include:
- 1 oz Gold, Nautical Ounce - Santa Maria, 2017
- 1 oz Silver, Nautical Ounce - Santa Maria, 2017
- 1 oz Gold, Nautical Ounce - HMS Endeavour, 2018
- 1 oz Silver, Nautical Ounce - HMS Endeavour, 2018
- 1 oz Gold, Nautical Ounce - Victoria, 2019
- 1 oz Silver, Nautical Ounce - Victoria, 2019
- 1 oz Gold, Nautical Ounce - Mayflower, 2020
- 3 oz Silver Antique High Relief, Nautical Ounce - Mayflower, 2020
- 1 oz Silver (with Antique version), Nautical Ounce - Mayflower, 2020
- 1 oz Gold, Nautical Ounce - Sedov, 2021
- 3 oz Silver Antique High Relief, Nautical Ounce - Sedov, 2021
- 1 oz Silver (with Antique version), Nautical Ounce - Sedov, 2021
|
|---|
|
Search for Rwanda: Silver Ounce 2019 Nautical Ounce - Victoria on eBay 