2018: New Commemorative Coin Honors Santiago de Compostela

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Here's a fascinating curiosity for all pilgrims, and anyone else passionate about the Way of Saint James.

Today we're talking about coins.

Just a few days ago, precisely on September 2nd, 2017, Spain's Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness officially announced, through the Official State Gazette, the release of a new commemorative coin from the UNESCO World Heritage cycle.

At the centre of attention is one of the world's most important destinations—not only for its artistic and architectural splendour, but also and especially for its significance to one of the world's most celebrated pilgrimages, the Way of Saint James. 2018 will therefore be the year of a new coin dedicated to Santiago de Compostela, specifically its historic old town.

As a symbol of this incredible city, they could only have chosen the image of Saint James as a pilgrim, depicted exactly as represented on the arch of the Holy Door within Santiago Cathedral at Praza de Obradoiro.

The ministry has announced that the coin will be worth 2 euros and will be minted by the Royal Spanish Mint from the early months of 2018 onwards. There will be just 300,000 specimens, and they will be distributed throughout Spain immediately.

This coin, dedicated to Saint James, is already destined to become a collector's piece for all pilgrims who will walk the Jacobean Way next year.

All the Spanish coins that connect with the Way of Saint James

But wait—over the years Spain has minted many other UNESCO World Heritage coins that, quite unexpectedly, relate to the Way of Saint James.

It all began in 2004, when the Ministry decided to occasionally issue commemorative 2-euro coins. These "(..)are intended for circulation" and created to "(..) commemorate a significant event or personality".

In 2009 the Spanish mint continued issuing these commemorative coins, dedicating them from that point onwards to "(..)sites and locations included in the UNESCO World Heritage List".

A succession of cities and places then followed from 2010 until today, each one representing, for one reason or another, a powerful draw for pilgrims. Interesting, isn't it?!

• In 2010 the historic centre of Córdoba appeared on the coin, one of the iconic cities of the Camino Mozárabe.

• In 2011 the Alhambra, Generalife and Albaicín district of Granada were commemorated—also on the Camino Mozárabe.

• In 2012 came the turn of the magnificent Burgos Cathedral, on the French Way. Tens of thousands of pilgrims discover this city each year as they walk.

• In 2015 the Altamira Cave was chosen for representation, reproducing the image of a bison—a magnificent detail from these prehistoric rock paintings. It's a special site in Cantabria along the Northern Way.

• In 2016 the impressive Roman aqueduct of Segovia was featured, a city through which the Madrid Way passes.

• 2017 was the year of Santa Maria del Naranco, an iconic building of Oviedo and the entire Principality of Asturias—an essential stop for every pilgrim about to begin the Primitive Way.

In short, a collection of coins absolutely worth collecting.

Don't you already have one in your wallet?

Meanwhile, anticipation is building for this new Santiago coin. It's certainly another reason to visit Spain in 2018, and above all to plan your next Way of Saint James pilgrimage.

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