August 23, 2012 – In July the Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre – Real Casa de la Moneda has put on sale to the general public the fourth set of collector coins in the ‘Numismatic Treasures’ series. In this series, conceived to reproduce unique coins from Spain’s numismatic heritage, three previous sets had been issued, the first in 2008, dedicated to the Roman Aureus and the Spanish-Greek Drachma, the second in 2009 featuring the Segovian Centen and the Cincuentin, and the third set in 2011 spotlighting the Spanish-Carthaginian Shekel and the Visigoth Triente, the latter in two separate issues, that of King Swinthila and that of King Leovigild.
The coins selected for this fourth set are the gold Maravedi of Alphonse VIII, the Almohad Dinar, and an Alphonse VIII Dinero. The coins, minted in proof quality in gold and silver, have face values of 100, 20 and 10 euros respectively.
Spain / 100 Euro / 999 gold / 6.75 g / 23 mm / Mintage: 6,000.
With the attributes of the classic 2-escudos, this coin features on its obverse, placed centrally and outlined by a circle, a reproduction of the obverse of a gold Maravedi of Alphonse VIII. The reverse reproduces the reverse side of the same Alphonse VIII gold Maravedi.
Spain / 20 Euro / 999 gold / 1.24 g / 13.92 mm / Mintage: 12,000.
Represented center on the obverse of this coin is the obverse of an Almohad Dinar. The entire field of the reverse reproduces the reverse side of the same Almohad Dinar.
Spain / 10 Euro / 925 silver / 27 g / 40 mm / Mintage: 10,000.
With the attributes of the classic eight reales, this coin’s obverse features, centrally-placed, the obverse of a Dinero by Alphonse VIII struck in Toledo. On the reverse the entire field is covered by a reproduction of the reverse side of the same Alphonse VIII Dinero.
For more information on these coins, please visit the website of the Real Casa de la Moneda.
A marvelous numismatic overview of Spain’s history offered the famous Huntington Collection which has been sold recently. You may browse through its various sections and find further links here.