2019-04-04 Thu

North Atlantic Treaty Organization aka NATO was formed today, 70 years ago. The organization implements the North Atlantic Treaty that was signed on 4 April 1949.

NATO is an important part of the period after that WWII popularly known as the Cold War. Talks for a new military alliance which could also include North America resulted in the signature of the North Atlantic Treaty on 4 April 1949 by the member states of the Western Union plus the United States, Canada, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland.

The North Atlantic Treaty was largely dormant until the Korean War which initiated the establishment of NATO to implement it. NATO's primary purpose was to defend member nations from threats by communist countries. Through the next half a century till the dissolution of the USSR, NATO had interference in many world crises.

The NATO was commemorated on many stamps and coins. The above-shown stamp was issued to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the foundation of NATO. Issued by USPS the stamp shows the symbol of the organization.

The coin shown above was a commemorative issue by Bulgaria on the accession of the country to NATO. The Obverse depicts Stylized Bulgarian arms – lion facing left and the symbol of NATO and the inscription Bulgaria in NATO with the year of issue 2004 under lion. The reverse depicts denomination above date, a half circle of 12 stars across the top.

The treaty originally had 12 member nations, and since 1949, has added 16 more. Today NATO has approximately 30 countries.

Image Courtesy: https://en.numista.com and https://www.mysticstamp.com

Visit philamart to view and purchase variety of stamps from all over the world.