1988, Dominican Republic. Red Proof Silver 100 Pesos Coin

Mint Year: 1988
Reference: KM-67.
Mintage: 5,300 pcs.

Mint Place: Ottawa (Canada)

Denomination: 100 Pesos - 500th Anniversary of Discovery and Evangelization of America Series: Native American Indians Sighting of the Ships.

Material: Silver (.999)

Weight: 155.53gm

Diameter: 65mm

Obverse:Native Americans at bay sighting the ships near their shore.

Legend: V CENTENARIO DEL DESCUBRIMIENTO Y EVANGELIZA DE AMERICA 1988

Reverse: National arms with Royal Canadian Mint mintmark below.

Legend: REPUBLICA DOMINICANA DIOS PATRIA LIBERTAD 155.53 grs. * 100 PESOS * .999

The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries. Both by area and population, the Dominican Republic is the second largest Caribbean nation (after Cuba), with 48,442 square kilometres (18,704 sq mi) and an estimated 10 million people.

Inhabited by Taínos since the 7th century, the territory of the Dominican Republic was reached by Christopher Columbus in 1492 and became the site of the first permanent European settlement in the Americas, namely Santo Domingo, the country’s capital and Spain’s first capital in the New World. In Santo Domingo stand, among other firsts in the Americas, the first university, cathedral, and castle, the latter two in the Ciudad Colonial area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After three centuries of Spanish rule, with French and Haitian   interludes, the country became independent in 1821 but was quickly taken over by Haiti. Victorious in the Dominican War of Independence in 1844, Dominicans experienced mostly internal strife, and also a   brief return to Spanish rule, over the next 72 years. The United States   occupation of 1916–1924, and a subsequent, calm and prosperous six-year   period under Horacio Vásquez Lajara, were followed by the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina until 1961. The civil war of 1965, the country’s last, was ended by a U.S.-led intervention, and was followed by the authoritarian rule of Joaquín Balaguer, 1966–1978. Since then, the Dominican Republic has moved toward representative democracy, and has been led by Leonel Fernández for most of the time after 1996.

The Dominican Republic has the second largest economy in the Caribbean and Central American region. Though long known for sugar production, the economy is now dominated by services. The country’s economic progress is exemplified by its advanced telecommunication system. Nevertheless, unemployment, government corruption, and inconsistent electric service remain major   Dominican problems. The country also has “marked income inequality”.

International migration greatly affects the country, as it receives   and sends large flows of migrants. Haitian immigration and the   integration of Dominicans of Haitian descent are major issues; the total   population of Haitian origin is estimated to be 800,000. A large Dominican diaspora exists, most of it in the United States, where it comprises 1.3 million. They aid national development as they send billions of dollars to their families, accounting for one-tenth of the Dominican GDP.

The Dominican Republic has become the Caribbean’s largest tourist   destination; the country’s year-round golf courses are among the top   attractions. In this mountainous land is located the Caribbean’s highest mountain, Pico Duarte, as is Lake Enriquillo, the Caribbean’s largest lake and lowest elevation. Quisqueya, as Dominicans often call their country, has an average temperature of 26 °C (78.8 °F) and great biological diversity.

Music and sport are of the highest importance in Dominican culture, with merengue as the national dance and song and baseball the favorite sport.