PLATE VIII.

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The independence of the Spanish possessions in Central and South America was due mainly to Bolivar, a Venezuelan, whose portrait is seen on [Plate VIII.], Fig. 50; he was made dictator in 1813, and in 1819 united Venezuela and New Granada as the Republic of Columbia, in which Ecuador was included in 1822. On the death of Bolivar in 1830 these three states separated themselves, and New Granada formed in 1861 the United States of Columbia of which a fine gold 20 Peso piece (1863) is shown on [Plate VIII.], No. 51. In 1871 were formed the United States of Venezuela by which was struck the gold piece of 1886 on [Plate VIII.], Fig. 50, with the commemorative portrait of Bolivar. [Plate VIII.], Fig. 52, is a silver coin of Ecuador struck in 1884 commemorating by the portrait and the coin denomination (Half Sucre) the great general who fought under Bolivar for the independence of these republics; after his victory at Ayacucho in 1824 he became in the following year the first president of the new republic of Bolivia. Fig. 53 is a gold Five Peso piece of Chili of 1862, and Fig. 54 a 20 Soles piece of Peru of 1863. The last three pieces are all struck under the decimal system, which was established in most of the South American republics between 1860 and 1875; in the several republics various denominations were used, many of which were taken from the type; the gold Condor, for example, in Chili and other countries is named after the condor or vulture which appears on its reverse, the silver Sucre at Ecuador from the commemorative portrait to which we have referred above, and in Peru the Sol from the Sun on the shield beside Liberty (see [Plate VIII.], No. 54) or above the shield of arms.

MAPS AND PLANS
OF
NOTABLE BATTLES AND DISTRICTS
CONNECTED WITH
FAMOUS AUTHORS AND THEIR BOOKS

BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL 17th June 1775

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