Casa del la Moneda Dominicana
Category
Architectural monuments
Address
Calle Arzobispo Meriño, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
How to get
At the intersection of Mercedes and Emiliano Tejera streets.
The name of the unique building Casa del la Moneda, also known as the "House of Five Medallions", translates as the Mint, although in fact coins have never been minted here. The real mint was nearby, but it was demolished.
The Casa del la Moneda house was built in 1540 for one of the high-ranking officials. The building is one of the few examples of the Plateresco style, with characteristic carved pilasters, capitals and a Roman frieze. The most important decorative elements that gave the name to the house are five medallions depicting a person at different ages, from a teenager to an old man. It is believed that these are images of King Charles V.
In 1972, the Casa del la Moneda was renovated, and in 1985 the Museum of Philately and Numismatics was opened here.