2016-03-09 Wed

The Discoverer of the “New World’, Amerigo Vespucci was born on 9th march 1454. Amerigo Vespucci an Italian explorer.

Amerigo Vespucci was born and raised in Florence, Italy. America was named after him because he was the first person to say that the new world wasn't the West Indies, but a new country.

In 1502, when Amerigo returned to Portugal, he told every one of his beliefs. He said they had found a new continent between Europe and Asia, and so the new land was named after him ‘America’. In 1508 the position of chief of navigation of Spain (piloto mayor de Indias) was created for Vespucci, with the responsibility of planning navigation for voyages to the Indies.

In 1931, Italy built a ship called the Amerigo Vespucci in honour of their explorer.

In 2012 a 5 euro silver coin was minted by Italian Mint in memorial of Amerigo Vespucci and his travels. Further Cook Islands had released a special 5 Dollar silver commemorative coin to celebrate the 500th Anniversary of Amerigo Vespucci’s discovery. Mint of Poland in 2010 issued a 20 Rubles silver coin.

Romania in 2004 issued a commemorative stamp of Vespucci’s 550th Birth anniversary. Antigua and Bermuda also have a 6 dollar stamp of this legendary navigator.