Spanish Gold Coins
For almost two thousand years Spain has produced coins in gold. The most common are escudos, which were minted up until 1833. These were available in varying denominations ranging from ½ to 8 escudos. The doubloon coin was worth 2 escudos. Most gold escudos were minted in Madrid. They are identifiable by the Royal Coat of Arms and marked with either an M for Madrid or S for Seville depending on where they were minted. Of great interest to collectors are the initials that appear on the opposite side of the coin which tell a collector which mint-master made the coin.
Preserving the Past
Generally, a gold Spanish coin is pleasing for the collector as they are usually in a wonderful condition and do not show the wear and tear of more widely used coins issued and used by the masses. Usually only used by royalty, the nobility or the extremely wealthy, they are remarkably well preserved. The sheer variety also makes them a joy to collect. These coins were produced with many hundreds of different designs in many denominations meaning a serious collector could, over many years, build up an impressive and unique collection that is a genuine asset. Delightful designs featuring royalty and colonial shields as well as many different religious symbols like crosses are seen across a variety of dates. Coins going right back to the Roman occupation are valuable as historical artefacts and not just for their collectability.
The Romance of the Coins
There is a sense of mystery and romance surrounding gold coins, particularly true for the doubloon, which will always conjure up images of pirates and explorers travelling the globe. Because of the travel going on at the time, there are two main kinds of Spanish gold coins to collect - those in normal circulation and shipwreck coins. Galleons were transporting Spanish wealth back from their new colonies in the New World and were often victims of stormy seas, hurricanes, or more sinister, pirates. Two or three treasure ships every year set sail and it is fair to say a good portion of Spanish wealth went to a watery resting place. Every so often a new shipwreck will be found which will instantly excite collectors of these precious reminders of history. Some of these wrecks like the Atocha, become world famous and coins from ships such as these become highly prized.
A Complicated History
Although the escudo is the most prolific of gold coins, collectors can also look for scudi, reales, pesetas, ecus and even euros. It is easy to see why there is such interest in collecting Spanish coins, given the turbulent nature of Spain's history from republic to royal state and back again. Also, the country has been occupied by the French, Greeks, Celts, Romans, Vandals and the Moors, until they were finally expelled by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in the late 1400s. Byzantine gold coins were copied by the Visigoth Christian kings as they set up their monarchy and followed the lead of the Eastern Roman Empire. With the Moors came a more tribal approach and coins from this period can vary enormously from geographical region to region. Some of Spain's royal family led a sadly short life meaning that coins struck to honour them in their lifetime can be extremely valuable. Others became rulers of their land when very young, like King Alphonso XIII who was just over six months old when he came to the throne. Some collectors enjoy trying to chart the whole period of a monarch's life in coinage.
Make Sure it's Authentic
As with anything valuable worth collecting, there can be unscrupulous sellers out there and collectors should do all they can to avoid being fooled. The main thing to remember is that a certificate of authenticity should always be obtained, especially for shipwreck coins. Whether a collector wants to create an album recording their coins, or even to transform them into stunning pieces of jewellery in unusual settings, Spanish gold coins will provide many pleasurable hours and a collection of real value.
