Aztec
Have admired some of these coins for a half century not really knowing much about them. Now, with the internet it's easy to research and understand what they are. This last Aztec ruler on my 1967 Mexican 50 centavos piece had his feet held to the fire by the Spanish Conquistador Cortez so that he might divulge where the gold treasures were. He denied any knowledge, and there was no stash. A few years later in 1525 consistent with their conquering theme they just executed him for good measure.
Feathers from the honored Resplendent Quetzal bird of Central America were used in the ruler's headdress. Believe the similar looking 5th century BC Greek warrior headdress was lion inspired.
This first coin depicts the Pyramid of the Sun from my 1955 Mexican 20 centavo piece. The Aztecs worshiped solar energy and did some minor sacrificing there but nothing like the reports of 84,000 prisoners sacrificed at other pyramids. The eagle standing on cactus and eating a rattlesnake appears to be a modification of the European good over evil symbolism in the Mexican coat of Arms. On my third 1944 Mexican 10 centavos coin the Aztec calendar is nicely shown. If you zoom in, you'll notice Everything Ends in 2012 !
My 1970 Panama one-tenth Balboa piece honors the explorer side of this Spanish Conquistado Balboa who in 1513 discovered the place where a Panama Canal should be built. Sadly for him, his countrymen chopped off his head in the New World for treason.
This Portuguese galleon ship on my 1944 Portuguese 2 1/2 Escudos may be the Sao Jose that met her end in 1622 after fleeing from the British and Dutch militia. Sunken treasure from the Sao Jose is available from the recovery in 2005. The same salvage company I own part of is also involved in the fascinating "Black Swan" project. Here are links to the intriguing Black Swan interconnection between the largest sunken ship treasure ever found, Nazi plundered art, and the current Wiki Leaks controversy.
Can we learn anything from our coin history? probably not!