Centennial of the Discovery of Oil in Argentina

On December 13, 1907, a drilling rig was sent to the booming Patagonian town of Comodoro Rivadavia to look for water; instead, an oil layer was found. This finding was informed to the then Argentine Government, which immediately declared the zone as a reserved property to exploit hydrocarbons.

Upon the 100th anniversary of the discovery of oil in the Argentine Republic, the Central Bank issues a series of commemorative coins for “Circulation” in cupronickel, and “Proof” quality in gold and silver in order to pay homage to all those whose work led to the discovery of the oil well.

The coin was designed by Mr. Carlos P. Rodriguez.

Out of the total pieces struck for circulation, 5,000 units have a plain edge and each of them is delivered in a cardboard case together with a small booklet on the historical accounts and features of the coin.

Obverse design

The center features the picture of the first oil drilling tower used at the time surrounded by the years "1907" and "2007", signaling the centennial of the discovery. Below the tower there appear the words “CDRO. RIVADAVIA”.

The legend "REPUBLICA ARGENTINA" (ARGENTINE REPUBLIC) is arranged to form the upper arch, and the inscription “DESCUBRIMIENTO DEL PETRÓLEO” (DISCOVERY OF OIL) shapes the lower arch.

Reverse design

The left center area shows a drilling rig and the right side displays the face value, “1”, and the word “PESO”. The upper part reads the name of the province, “CHUBUT”, and the exergue contains the coinage year, “2007”.

2 Pesos

Obverse design

The center features the picture of the first oil drilling tower used at the time surrounded by the years "1907" and "2007", signaling the centennial of the discovery. Below the tower there appear the words “CDRO. RIVADAVIA”.

The legend "REPUBLICA ARGENTINA" (ARGENTINE REPUBLIC) is arranged to form the upper arch, and the inscription “DESCUBRIMIENTO DEL PETRÓLEO” (DISCOVERY OF OIL) shapes the lower arch.

Reverse design

The left center area shows a drilling rig and the right side displays the face value, “2”, and the word “PESOS”. The upper part reads the name of the province, “CHUBUT”, and the exergue contains the coinage year, “2007”.

Obverse design

The center features the picture of the first oil drilling tower used at the time surrounded by the years "1907" and "2007", signaling the centennial of the discovery. Below the tower there appear the words “CDRO. RIVADAVIA”. The legend "REPUBLICA ARGENTINA" (ARGENTINE REPUBLIC) is arranged to form the upper arch, and the inscription “DESCUBRIMIENTO DEL PETRÓLEO” (DISCOVERY OF OIL) shapes the lower arch.

Reverse design

The left center area shows a drilling rig and the right side displays the face value, “5”, and the word “PESOS”. The upper part reads the name of the province, “CHUBUT”, and the exergue contains the coinage year, “2007”.