Centen gold coin from the period of Philip IV 1637

Description of the Product

Spanish coins were well-known and widely used gold coin during the conquest of the New World, and a treasure coveted by all pirates. Spanish money was introduced to the new settlements and was valid as a currency in other areas too, not just the Spanish-dominated ones. Spanish coins had become the reserve currency of the whole new world, valid everywhere.

From the early 16th century onwards, the world’s most powerful empire, Spain, introduced gold coins named escudo and silver coins named real. One golden escudo was worth 16 silver reals, and a double escudo, or doublon, was worth 32 silver reals. The mighty empire and crown guaranteed the value of the money, and printed its own symbols on the coins, and soon the doublons, escudos, and reals spread around the world in the holds of wooden ships and in the money pouches of sailors.

The Centén is a Spanish coin worth 100 golden escudos, or 160 silver reals. Because at that time money had to be its worth in precious metal, the centén was a massive 359-gram gold coin. Adjusted for the current price of gold, one coin could today buy a nice car, so this coin was definitely not made for daily grocery shopping. These extravagantly valuable coins were minted during the eras of Philip IV (1621-1640) and Charles II (1665-1700).

Because Spanish coins were widely appreciated and loot could be used anywhere in the world, doublons, reals and the most valuable centen -coins were a coveted target for pirates. Buried coffins full of gold coins are not a Hollywood invention, but true history.

This coin is a replica from 1637, the period of Philip IV. Philip IV belonged to the Habsburg family, and as well as ruling the great Spanish Empire, he was also the king of Naples, Sicily and Portugal. As Spain was a strongly Catholic country, Philip took part in the Thirty Years' War on the side of the Catholic League, trying to conquer the western parts of Germany for himself, while also fighting against the independence-seeking Netherlands. The Netherlands had long sought to secede from Spanish rule in the Eighty Years’ War, which ended with the same peace treaty in 1648 as the Thirty Years' War, and the Netherlands gained its independence. Although Spain was still the largest and most powerful, the Spanish Empire began its decline during Philip IV. Spain was caught up in endless wars against the Netherlands, France and Britain, in addition to the Thirty Years' War. The Spanish army had lost enormous manpower and resources in its ongoing wars, and was no longer allowed to fight against Portugal, which also seceded from Spain after the war in 1668.

This coin is strongly associated with the most tragic twists and turns of European history, when Europe was a mess of never-ending internal wars, while still conquering new territories as colonies and dominating much of the planet.

• This decorative coin is made entirely from cast metal, zamak
• Perfect for historical re-enactment, in film productions, for collectors of historical memorabilia, and as decoration
• The diameter of the coin is about 4 cm
• Manufacturer: Denix, Spain