HAITI COIN SET HONORS NATIONAL HEROES

Haiti is the world’s oldest Black Republic, having achieved independence from France in 1804. Nearly all of the country’s 5 million inhabitants are descendants from the original 480,000 African Slaves. It has been in the news due to the disastrous earthquake it experienced on January 12, 2010. The five coin set includes the 5, 20 and 50 Centimes, and the multi-sided 1 and 5 Gourdes. Four heroes of Haitian independence are shown on the 5 Gourdes: Toussaint Louveture, Henri Christophe (who constructed the Citadelle Laferriere), Jean Jacques Dessalines and Alexandre Petion. The 1 Gourde shows the famous Citadelle Laferriere, built in the early 1800's at a tremendous cost and loss of life to protect against an expected French invasion that never came. The 50, 20 and 5 Centimes portray Charlemagne Peralte, who led a guerilla movement against the United States occupation of Haiti during World War I. The obverse of each coin features the Haitian arms which includes cannons, guns, flags and a palm tree. The coins date from 1991 to 2003 and are Uncirculated