Peru 1858 Coat of Arms

Peru · 1858 · 1 Dinero

This stamp features the Peruvian coat of arms, which is divided into three fields. The top left shows a vicuña, the national animal, on a light blue field. The top right shows a cinchona tree, the source of quinine, on a white field. The bottom field shows a cornucopia overflowing with coins on a red field.

This is one of the earliest stamps issued by Peru, part of the first definitive series that replaced the Pacific Steam Navigation Company issues. The design, featuring the national coat of arms, was a powerful symbol of Peruvian sovereignty and identity in the mid-19th century.