As the last scheduled activity of the 9th International Numismatic Convention - Encuentro de Buenos Aires 2019, the 5th edition of the LatiNum Awards ceremony was held in the auditorium of the Centro Galicia of Buenos Aires city. The following authorities attended the ceremony: • Mr. Santos Javier Tito Véliz, , Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Plurinational State of Bolivia in Argentina • Mr. Óscar Ricardo Valero, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Mexico in Argentina • Mr. Orlando José Gómez, Ambassador of Nicaragua in Argentina • Mr. Eduardo Fragoso, Communication and Tourism Attaché of the Mexican Embassy in Argentina • Mr. Rodolfo Serafini, Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of Paraguay in Argentina • Ec. Luis Fernando Baudoin Olea, Director ad interim of the Central Bank of Bolivia • Mr. Víctor Fernández Santa Cruz, Director of the Numismatics and Jewels Museum of the Central Bank of Paraguay • Lic. Alfonso Morales Muñoz, Chief Engraver from the Coin Department of Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre of Spain • Lic. Rocío Hernández García, Analyst of Cultural and Numismatic Heritage of the Bank of Mexico • Lic. Diego Aufiero, Coordinating Analyst of the Museum of the Central Bank of the Argentine Republic • Designer César Quaretti, Head of the Art and Design Department of S. E Casa de Moneda de Argentina. • Engravers and designers of Sociedad del Estado Casa de Moneda de Argentina • Authorities and representatives of Latin American numismatic institutions • Teachers and students of the University Institute of the Federal Police of Argentina The ceremony began with the welcome remarks of Mr. Facundo Vaisman and Mr. Fernando Perticone, President and Secretary of the Buenos Aires Numismatic Center respectively and members of the organizing committee of the LatiNum Awards. Then, the reveal of the winning lists of each category started. The first category was “Best Latin American banknote 2018 / 2019” and the podium was covered as follows: • 3rd place: Argentine Republic - 100 Pesos - Taruca, National Natural Monument - 17.29% of the votes • 2nd place: Argentine Republic - 50 Pesos - Andean Condor - 22.98% of the votes • 1st place: Plurinational State of Bolivia - 100 Bolivianos - Azurduy, Calatayud and Sucre - 35.84% of the votes The second category presented was “Best Latin American circulation coin 2018/2019”, with the following results: • 3rd place: Argentine Republic - 2 Pesos - Palo Borracho - 14.22% of the votes • 2nd place: Republic of Peru - 1 Sol - Suri - 14.56% of the votes • 1st place: Republic of Peru - 1 Sol - Jaguar - 22.41% of the vote The last category revealed was the “Best Latin American collection coin 2018/2019”, which threw the next figures: • 3rd place: Oriental Republic of Uruguay - 1,000 Pesos - Bicentennial of the National Navy - 12.86% of the votes • 2nd place: Republic of Nicaragua - 100 Córdobas - Oso Hormiguero Gigante - 15.13% of the votes • 1st place: Republic of Nicaragua - 100 Córdobas - Ocelote - 21.16% of the votes Then the LatiNum Awards of the previous edition, 2017/2018, were given to the authorities of the issuing and producing entities of the winning pieces of the three categories. It began by awarding the 10 Bolivianos banknote of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, which had obtained first place with 24.04% of the public votes. For being the issuer of the banknote, on behalf of the Central Bank of Bolivia, Mr. Santos Javier Tito Véliz, Ambassador of Bolivia in Argentina, received the distinction, handed over by Mr. Walter Medina, president of the Buenos Aires North zone Numismatic Center. As producers of the banknote, the French company Oberthur Fiduciaire was rewarded, who will soon receive the distinction. Then the prizes were given to the 20 Pesos 2016 coin of the United Mexican States, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of the DN III E Plan and which won first place in the circulation coin category with 39,66% of the votes. On behalf of the Bank of Mexico as issuer and Mint of Mexico as producer, Mr. Oscar Ricardo Valero, Ambassador of Mexico in Argentina, received the awards. They were ceded to him by Mr. Darío Sánchez Abrego, president of the Federal Institute of Numismatic Investigators of the Argentine Republic and by Mr. Claudio Fernández, Administrator of the Group of Banknotes Collectors, respectively. Immediately, the same was done with the best Latin American collection coin 2017 / 2018 category, in which the public awarded the first location with 14.17% of the votes, to the piece of the Republic of Paraguay, 1 Guaraní 2017 belonging to the XI Iberoamerican Series, Natural Wonders, Saltos del Monday. Mr. Víctor Fernández Santa Cruz, Director of the Museum of Numismatics and Jewels of the Central Bank of Paraguay, received the mention as the issuer, who approached the stage to receive the award from Mr. Carlos Alberto Graziadio on behalf of the Argentine Academy of Numismatics and Medalistics. As the producer, on behalf of the Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre of Spain, Mr. Alfonso Morales Muñoz, Chief Engraver of the Coin Department of said company received the award from the hands of Mr. Horacio Morero, former president of the Uruguayan Institute of Numismatics. The ceremony concluded with a thunderous applause from all attendees to the winners and awarded of this edition of the LatiNum Awards.
