Saturday, July 16, 2011

Charming "military" coin

Issued year - 2010, November

Bicentenary of Linhas de Torres defensive line

Only 120.000 of this 2,5 € coin have been issued. Once again, Alexandra Vieira, a work mate, gave me this coin, still in 2010. This issue celebrates the bicentenary of the Linhas de Torres defensive line. The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807 and then in 1808 turned on its ally, Spain. The war lasted until the Sixth Coalition defeated Napoleon in 1814. British and Portuguese forces secured Portugal - with last-line fortifications known as Linhas de Torres (the fortress line) - using it as a secure position from which to launch campaigns against the French army. Combined, the regular and irregular allied forces prevented Napoleon's marshals from subduing the rebellious provinces.

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