Bank of the Republic of Colombia: Commemorative Coin of Holy Mother Laura Montoya Upegui and her Religious Legacy

Saint Laura Montoya was born in Jericho, Colombia, in 1874. From a young age she showed a deep faith and vocation of service, supporting her widowed mother as a teacher. Her devotion to the Eucharist and the Scriptures led her to found the Congregation of Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Virgin Mary and St. Catherine of Siena in 1914. Committed to the evangelization and dignification of the indigenous peoples, she devoted herself to her mission with the motto “to become an Indian with the Indians to win them all for Christ”. She was the first Colombian saint and left behind a legacy of love, education and defense of the rights of the most vulnerable.in 2015, the Bank of the Republic of Colombia issued a commemorative coin in honor of Mother Laura Montoya Upegui, the first Colombian saint, in compliance with Law 1710 of 2014. This coin celebrates her social and spiritual contributions, especially her dedication to the evangelization of Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities. The coin's design features an obverse depicting Mother Laura, inspired by a photograph exhibited during her canonization in 2013 at the Vatican. The reverse features the Cathedral of Jericó, Antioquia, the saint's birthplace, and the place where she was baptized. The piece, made of cupronickel, weighs 21.75 grams, is 2.65 mm thick, and has a face value of 5,000 Colombian pesos. A total of 500,000 coins were minted, available to the public in two formats: one in an acrylic case for 5,000 pesos, and another in a special case with an informative brochure for 14,000 pesos. The issuance of this coin underscores the importance of Mother Laura as a spiritual and cultural figure in Colombia and consolidates her legacy through a commemorative object of historical and devotional value. This initiative not only perpetuates her memory but also highlights the Banco de la República's commitment to the national heritage and religious identity of the nation.