NAVIGATION - SPANISH IRONCLAD NUMANCIA (SERIES IV)ID92890061


The F.N.M.T. - R.C.M. presents a new series of coins dedicated to recall the "History of Navigation". These series reproduce a selection of boats that, for one reason or another, have been relevant over time. It consists of twenty coins. Four of them are put into circulation in 2018 and the remaining 16 in 2019.To collect them, you can purchase the book "History of Navigation" (art. 92887050), which describes the technical characteristics of each of the boats.
Special launching offer! With the purchase of the first four coins (Phoenician Combat Ship, Drakkar Scandinavo, Spanish Navy and Juan Sebastian de Elcano School Ship), we will send you the collection book-case free of charge (art. 32887050).
On the obverse, in the central area, an image of the work titled "Modern military navy is reproduced in colors. Battleships. Numancia Spanish frigate, which is preserved in the Naval Museum of Madrid. In the upper left, the legend FRAGATA ACORAZADA NUMANCIA. In the lower part, the legend ESPAÑA and the year of minting 2019.
On the reverse (common to all the pieces), the face value of the coin 1.5 EURO and the inscription HISTORY OF THE NAVIGATION appear. Out of the central circle there are six dolphins jumping, counter clockwise, on the same aquatic motifs that appear in the obverses.
Series | History of Navigation |
Year | 2019 |
Colour | Yes |
Diameter (mm) | 33 |
Face Value (Euro) | 1.5 |
Metal | Cupronickel |
Weight (g) | 15 |
Maximum Mintage (units) | 10,000 |
ARMOURED FRIGATE NUMANCIA
Period: Nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Length: 96 m Beam: 17 m Draught: 8 m.
Propulsion: Sails and engine.
Weaponry: Cannons and portable arms.
Description: Named after the feat performed by the Celtiberian inhabitants of Numancia against Roman legions, the Numancia is one of the most important vessels in the history of the Spanish Royal Navy.
Built at the La Seyne Shipyard in Toulon, it was launched on November 17 1863 and delivered in December of the following year.
With a displacement of 7,402 tonnes and propeller-driven machine power of 1,000 HP, it could reach a speed of just over 12 knots. It featured three masts with frigate rigging for auxiliary sailing. Its teak hull was clad in iron 13cm thick to protect it from 2.3 m below the waterline to the main deck. With 34 20cm/68 pound cannons, its weaponry was modern for its time. Carrying a crew of 590 men, it cost what was then considered to be an absolute fortune: 8,322,252 pesetas. In 1877, it became the Spanish Royal Navy’s first vessel to be fitted with electric lighting. In 1896, it was turned into an armoured coast guard vessel, for which purpose the engine and the weaponry were changed and the sail rigging removed.
Key events: In 1865, the Numancia joined the Pacific Squadron, sent by the government in view of the hostile behaviour of Chile and Peru towards Spanish interests.
The commanding officer of the Numancia, Casto Méndez Núñez, pursued a vigorous, aggressive campaign which culminated in the bombardments of Valparaíso and Callao (May 2 1866). After the war, part of the squadron returned via Cape Horn while the rest, including the Numancia, called at the Philippines to arrive in Cádiz on September 20 1867 via the Cape of Good Hope. It was the first armoured vessel to sail round the world, a feat which has been immortalised with the motto In Ioricata navis quae primo terram circuivit, to the astonishment of those who had declared it to be unsuitable for ocean voyages. In 1873, it joined the Cantonal Revolution in Cartagena as the flagship of the rebel fleet. It took part in the bombing of Alicante and the Portman naval battle.
Its last action in war took place in Morocco in 1909, when it bombed Rifian positions at Barranco del Lobo. In August 1911, some of the non-commissioned officers and marines took part in the unsuccessful uprising of the Numancia off the coast of Tangiers in an attempt to overthrow the monarchy and proclaim a republic.
When its decommissioning was decreed, it was first used as a school for orphans. Later, the idea of turning it into a floating museum gained a lot of support. Finally, however, while being towed to Bilbao to be scrapped, it ran into a raging storm and sank on December 17 1916, having served Spain for 51 years.