Front: A young Embera (indigenous Colombian Pacific native) Woman

Back: Native birds around antique map

Front: Francisco de Paula Santander (1792-1840), military and political leader of independence

Santander began his military career at the age of 18 as a soldier in the federalist faction of New Granada's independence movement. He later became a centralist.

Santander received the rank of colonel in 1812. After the Spanish Invasion of New Granada, Santander retreated to the border near the modern Venezuelan, where he was promoted to Brigadier General in 1817 under Simón Bolívar.

Simón Bolívar appointed him commander of the republican army's vanguard in the invasion of New Grenada 1819. Santander was one of the battlefield commanders during the republican victory at the Battle of Boyacá in August 7 of that same year. After the battle, he was promoted to Division General, the equivalent of Major General.

Santander was elected vice president of Gran Colombia in 1821 by the newly gathered Congress. Santender became acting president when Bolívar, the president of the new republic, decided to continue leading the republican forces against Ecuador and Peru.

Santander and Bolívar were initially close friends and allies. However, political and ideological differences soon separated them. In 1828 Bolívar abolished the office of the vice president and declared himself dictator. Santander was blamed for an assassination attempt against Bolivar and exiled.

After Bolívar died in 1830, Santander returned from exile and served as President of New Granada 1832 to 1836.

Back: Entrance to Casa de Moneda building

Front: José Asunción Silva (1865-1896), Colombian poet

Silva is noted for his technical innovations, haunting musical tones, and a brooding spirit of pessimism. Reflecting the spirit of European symbolism, they had great influence on Rubén Darío and other modernistas. The best known is "Nocturno III", "Crepusculo", and "Día de difuntos" [day of the dead]. Silva also wrote a novel, De sobremesa, notable for its rejection of realist conventions and its intense, lyrical focus on emotional experience. He committed suicide at the age of 31.

Back: Woman, trees and monument

Front: Policarpa Salavarrieta (1795-1817), Colombian revolutionary

Policarpa was born in Guadas, Colombia of poor and lower class parentage. She and her brothers were enthusiastic revolutionaries. They wanted to free Colombia from Spanish domination. She was caught as a spy and executed by royalist troops.

On the way to the execution, Policarpa walked with dignity and courage. She made an impassionate plea to the crowd, inspiring the people with revolutionary fervor.

Back: Villiage at Guadas, circa 1846

Front: Julio Garavito Armero (1865-1920), Colombian astronomer

Armero was born in Bogotá, Colombia. He graduated from Escuela Nacional de Ingeniería (National Engineering School), majoring in mathematics and civil engineering.

Armero was director of the Observatorio Astronómico Nacional (National Astronomical Observatory) in 1892. His investigative works had been published in Los Anales de Ingeniería (The Annals of Engineering) since 1890, seven years before he took over by editing the publication.

Back: Satellite view of earth