Paraguay 300 guaranies - Alfredo Stroessner 1968

The coin's story

This 300 guaraníes coin in 720 thousandths silver, issued by the Central Bank of Paraguay, marks the fourth term of President Alfredo Stroessner, from 1968 to 1973. An army officer, Stroessner seized power in a coup on 4 May 1954 with the support of the Colorado Party, he ruled the country with an iron hand for 35 years, until his overthrow on 3 February 1989 by General Andrés Rodríguez, and died in exile in Brazil in 2006. The obverse bears the seal of the Treasury, a seated lion guarding a cap of liberty, with the motto PAZ Y JUSTICIA (Peace and justice). The reverse shows the President's bust. The edge bears the incuse inscription CENTENARIO DE LA EPOPEYA NACIONAL (Centenary of the national epic). The coin, not intended for circulation, was struck at the Royal Mint in London.