Collection | Featured pieces

The Liberator José de San Martín

Thematic selection of pieces

In the Central Bank Museum you can find pieces related to the country’s influential personalities. Among them, here we share those that commemorate José de San Martín.

José de San Martín was born in the town of Yapeyú, a former Jesuit mission located on the banks of the Uruguay River in the Governorate of the Guarani Missions of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, now belonging to the Province of Corrientes, on February 25, 1778.

He was a military man and politician whose revolutionary campaigns were decisive for the independence of Argentina, Chile and Peru. He is recognized as one of the Liberators of America for his contribution to the self-determination of a large part of Spanish America.

On August 17 we commemorate the Passage to Immortality of General José de San Martín, a national holiday, who died on that day in 1850 in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.

In the following rooms of our museum you will find:

Room 6 | Central Bank of the Argentine Republic

Gold proof coin commemorating the 150th anniversary of the death of General José de San Martín in 2000.

Room 4 | Argentine money today

5 peso banknote, issued on October 1, 2015. Obverse: portrait of General José de San Martín. Reverse: figures of the Liberators of America José de San Martín, José Gervasio Artigas, Simón Bolívar and Bernardo O’Higgins.

5-peso banknote (new design) issued from 1998 onwards. Effigy of General José de General San Martín with complementary image from the painting “El Abrazo de Maipú”. Reverse: Cerro de la Gloria, Monument to the Army of the Andes – Mendoza. Artistic work by the Uruguayan sculptor Juan Manuel Ferrari.

Room 3 | Conservative Republic and the Twentieth Century

50 peso banknote, national currency, issued in 1966. Obverse: Portrait of the young General San Martín. Reverse: “The Passage of the Andes” Painting by Augusto Ballerini.

5 peso convertible banknote of legal tender, issued in 1992. Obverse: effigy of General José de San Martín. Reverse: Cerro de la Gloria, monument to the Army of the Andes – Mendoza, artistic work of the Uruguayan sculptor Juan Manuel Ferrari.

These pieces are not currently on display, but they are part of the museum’s heritage

Order of the Liberator San Martín. Distinction granted by the Argentine Republic exclusively to foreign civil or military officials who, in the exercise of their functions, deserve a high degree of honor and recognition from the Nation. “Knight’s Degree”. ”. It is part of the San Martin Collection acquired by the Museum in 2015.

Oath of Independence of Peru of July 28, 1821, minted in silver by order of General San Martín. It is part of the San Martin Collection acquired by the Museum in 2015.

Order of the Sun of Peru. Distinction given by the Peruvian State to its citizens and to foreigners, both civilian and military, who have excelled in fields such as Arts, Letters, Culture, Politics and Extraordinary Services to Peru. Grand Cross Degree. Minted at the National Mint of Lima. ”. It is part of the San Martin Collection acquired by the Museum in 2015.

Silver bronze medal alluding to the Centennial of the May Revolution 1810-1910. ”. It is part of the San Martin Collection acquired by the Museum in 2015.

Copper medal issued by the San Martin Institute, alluding to the Centennial of the repatriation of the curved saber of General San Martín. 1897-1997. ”. It is part of the San Martin Collection acquired by the Museum in 2015.

Silver coin of 8 reales minted in Peru, by order of General José de San Martín in 1822. It is known as “Peso de San Martín”. It presents the first coat of arms designed by the Liberator with flags of Argentina and Chile as a symbol of the liberated countries. It is part of the San Martin Collection acquired by the Museum in 2015.