Behind door 9 we have an aluminium coin from 1965, Uruguay.
On the reverse we have the value of the coin surrounded by a laurel wreath, whilst on the obverse we have the full name of Uruguay surrounded a profile etch of Jose Artigas.
Artigas is a national hero of Uruguay, sometimes called “the father of Uruguayan nationhood.” In his early life he fought successfully against the British in Buenos Aires, and later unsuccessfully in Montevideo. Escaping capture, he raised an army of gauchos and conducted a successful guerrilla campaign against the British. After the British capitulation after the second failed attempt to capture Buenos Aires, Artigas was promoted to captain in 1809.
During the outbreak of the Peninsula War, the Spanish-American wars erupted across South America. During this period, what is now Uruguay was part of the territory belonging to Argentina, and many natives grew resentful of this. Artigas used this resentment to create popular support, and would fight against control of Argentina.
In 1814, Artigas created the League of the Free Peoples of which he was declared protector. The following year he would liberate Montevideo from Argentinian control. Shortly after he would attend the Congress of Oriente and declare independence for the regions which would make up Uruguay, calling themselves the Federal League.
Portugal and Buenos Aires however feared the influence of the League, and in 1816 both countries would declare war and invade. Artigas would be captured, along with Montevideo, in 1817, but League forces would continue to resist for a further 3 years out in the countryside. Losing the war, Artigas would spend the rest of his life in exile in Paraguay until his death in 1850. His remains were repatriated in 1977 and interred in a mausoleum in the central plaza in Montevideo.
Uruguay would eventually gain it’s independence in 1828 under the Treaty of Montevideo. It would gain it’s first constitution a few years later in 1830.
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