3159) Royal Mint of Segovia, Spain: “Jewels of the Museo Casa de la Moneda Coin Series": 100 Euro Silver Proof coins feature the famed centén and 10 Euro Coins feature the minting process in the first mechanised mint in Spain - The Royal Mint of Segovia: Date of Coins issue: 27.12.2023:
The Header/Banner presents a gold centén of which only 7 peces were issued by thr Royal Mint of Segovia and a Silver Coin which outlines the minting process in the mint, which was the first mechanised mint in Spain
The Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre — Real Casa de la Moneda has brought out Gold-plated Silver and Silver Proof Coins which highlight the Royal Mint of Segovia, one of the Spain’s most well-known and historically important locations for the production of Spanish Coinage.
The coins featured are part of the Mint Museum of the Casa de la Moneda, considered to be one of the most important museums of its kind in the world.
The wealth of its collections, its extensive facilities, and the technical support offered to numismatists, researchers and teachers make the museum a unique place from which to learn about the world of numismatic treasures.
About the Royal Mint of Segovia:
The Mint was ordered and commissioned by the proclamation of King Felipe II in 1580 with the completed complex opening in 1583.
The Segovia Mint was recognised as one of the oldest and most important examples of industrial architecture in Europe.
The first mechanised mint in Spain:
It was the first mechanised mint in Spain, in addition to the first that belonged directly to the crown.
The plant was designed to carry out the entire minting process, from the delivery of the raw metals to the final product, the coin itself.
The machines were manufactured in Hall, Austria, and were brought to Spain in the largest industrial convoy, travelling the greatest distance known at that time.
Additional and final improvements were ordered by Fernando VII, who ordered work on the building itself in 1829 which included the monumental gates in neoclassical style built by the architect Juan José Alzaga, one of the most outstanding examples of this style in Segovia.
With a new centralised minting complex constructed in Madrid, the doors of the Mint of Segovia closed permanently in 1869.
A Royal match:
One particular rarity of the minting of the centén occurred in 1623 on the occasion of both a royal visit and a proposed royal match between the Houses of Spain’s Habsburg dynasty and the Stuarts of Britain.
It was in 1622 when King James I of England received an offer from King Philip IV of Spain to strengthen the relations between their countries through a dynastic marriage between his son Charles, Prince of Wales, and the king’s sister, the Infanta Maria Anna and soon, London and Madrid began active negotiations.
The possible marriage between the Prince of Wales and the Spanish Infanta was known in history as the “Spanish match” and caused an internal political crisis in both England and Scotland.
In 1623, the Prince of Wales, accompanied by George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, visited Madrid to meet his intended bride.
However, Maria Anna had reservations about marrying a Protestant, and Charles would not convert to Catholicism due to English succession laws.
Ultimately, the wedding never took place for political reasons but also because of the reluctance of the new Spanish king to conclude a dynastic marriage with the House of Stuart.
A Minting tribute by the Mint of Segovia:
In the meantime, as the negotiations were still in full swing, the prince visited the city of Segovia and the Real Ingenio, the Mint of Segovia.
As a tribute to the Prince of Wales and his visit, a total of seven gold coins were struck and referred to as the centén.
The Museo Casa de la Moneda has one of these seven pieces struck in 1623, however, the other six pieces and their whereabouts are unknown.
History records that Prince Charles, later King Charles II, eventually married the devout Catholic Princess Henrietta Maria of France of the House of Bourbon.
In 1626, Maria Anna was herself betrothed to Archduke Ferdinand, the younger brother of her first fiancé and the new heir of Emperor Ferdinand II of Austria.
The Coins:
The gold-plated silver and silver Proof-quality coins highlight:
100 Euro — Gold-plated Silver:
Featured on this coin is the famed centén of 1623, a gold Spanish coin of 100 escudos minted for the first time in 1609 under the reign of Felipe III, it was also minted under the reigns of Felipe IV and Carlos II.
Weighing 338.05 grams of pure gold, its diameter was 715 millimetres and it was considered the largest gold coin ever minted in Europe during that period.
As these coins were not actually foreseen in the monetary legislation during this time, it was necessary to have the royal accent and authorisation of the king for these large gold coins to be struck.
The coin marks the 400th anniversary of the striking of the Stuart centén of 1623.
10 Euro / 8 Reales - Silver:
Featured on the silver Proof-quality coins is the process of production of the centén.
This Renaissance technology consisted of a rolling and minting system by means of hydraulic wheel-driven mills, and the roller press.
The press for minting coins was based on a system of parallel cylinders with multiple dies, between which a metal plate was passed and which was engraved on both sides, and the pieces were then cut out.
The machines were powered by hydraulic means, hence the name “mill press,” by which the process of production was known. Depicted on the obverse are the roller dies used to strike the centen and on the reverse, the watermills used to power the minting process.
i) The specifications of the 100 Euro Silver Coin Variant are:
Country of issue: Spain; Date/Year:1623 Reminted in 2023); Series Theme: "The famed centén of 1623, a gold Spanish coin of 100 escudos); Denomination/Face Value: 100 Euro; Metal Composition: .925 Fineness Silver (Ag) with Gold plating; Weight: 168.7 grams; Diameter/Size: 73.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof (P) with Gold plating; Minted By: Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre — Real Casa de la Moneda; Mintage: 2,500 pieces.
ii) The specifications of the 10 Euro Silver Coin Variant are:
Country of issue: Spain; Date/Year:2023; Series Theme: "The minting process in the mechanised Royal Mint of Segovia"; Denomination/Face Value: 10 Euro; Metal Composition: .925 Fineness Silver (Ag) with Gold plating; Weight: 27.00 grams; Diameter/Size: 40.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof (P); Minted By: Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre — Real Casa de la Moneda; Mintage: 5,000 pieces.
- Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a custom case accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
Santosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"Thanks for sharing this informative and interesting post."
Thank you so much, Khanna sahab.
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