2021-04-21 Wed

On April 21, Mexicans celebrate Heroic Defense of Veracruz (Heroica Defensa de Veracruz). The day commemorates the defence of the city of Veracruz against the United States occupation in 1914. The incident occurred during the Mexican Revolution and came amid strained diplomatic relations between the United States and Mexico.

US President Woodrow Wilson ordered to occupy the port of Veracruz. American marines landed at Veracruz on April 21. General Gustavo Maass ordered the Mexican troops to retreat, but about 50 soldiers remained behind to fight the invaders. Cadets, staff and faculty of the Veracruz National Academy and citizens of Veracruz also defended their city against the occupants.

In the year 2014, Mexico issued a 20 peso coin to commemorate the Centenary of Heroic Defense of Veracruz. The obverse of the coin depicts the National Shield (Mexican Golden Eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus devouring a snake) in sculpted relief, with the inscription “UNITED MEXICAN STATES forming a semicircle above it.

The reverse has the relief figures of Virgilio Uribe and Jose Azueta, and underneath them, Mexico’s Naval Academy building. The figures of civilians defending the port of Veracruz appear on the left side of the coin and an anchor on the right side.

In the upper exergue, there is the legend CENTENARY OF THE HEROIC DEED OF THE PORT OF VERACRUZ and the names “Jose Azueta” and “Virgilio Uribe” underneath it. In the lower exergue, there is the word (Naval Academy and the years “1914-2014”. Finally, on the left side of the field, there is Mexico’s mintmark, and on the right side, the $20 denomination.

Image Courtesy: mynumi.net