NewP: Spain Ferdinand & Isabella 1476-1516 Gold 2 Excellentes

JZrarities · July 12, 2007 8:26AM

Hmmm...I wonder if there's a chance Columbus had this one...

worldcoinguy · July 12, 2007 8:57AM

Awesome coin Jeff! We might need to see the reverse on that one also.

JZrarities · July 12, 2007 9:19AM

Ask, and ye shall receive !

Silvereagle82 · July 12, 2007 9:22AM

JZ,
I love it

It is one of the coins on my short list !!
These coins were actually minted from 1497 - 1566 ... so yes upon Columbus's return in 1493 (He discovered America in 1492) you never know he may easily have been paid for his later services with that very coin !!!

Interesting footnote, the first gold brought back by from the Americas was sent to the then Pope Alexander the VI where he used it to gild the ceiling of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. In later shipments 1/8 of mined metal was sent directly to the mint. So the gold in this coin was brought over from the Americas by either Columbus or one of his fellow captains ... WOW !!

CATHOLIC KINGS (1474-1504)

Looks like a Seville Mint
Measurement: 33 mm Weight: 7 grams @ .9860 gold ( the excelente was the exact equivalent of the Venetian ducat therefore the 2 excelente is double the weight of the ducat)
Obverse: + FERNANDVS ET HELISAB around the busts of the crowned and confronted kings; it raises potenzada cross (ensayador), down S between 4 points ( Seville mint)
Reverso: SVB: VMBRA: To IARN around the shield of arms sheltered by aguila of San Juan. The reverse also depicts the Arms of Spain displayed on a haloed eagle's breast. The 1st and 4th quarters depict the castle of Castille and the rampart lion of Leon. The 2nd and 3rd quarters share the vertical stripes of Aragon and the saltire cross of Navarre. A the base of the shiled is a pomegranate which is the symbol of Granada.

BS · July 12, 2007 9:27AM

Congrats, that's very cool.

JZrarities · July 12, 2007 9:30AM

SE82 - Thanks for the help with the Legends !

DorkGirl · July 12, 2007 9:31AM

Beautiful!!

TwoKopeiki · July 12, 2007 10:03AM

Very cool, JZ

Another stunner!

lordmarcovan · July 12, 2007 2:56PM

I know of TWO of those being dug in this region. One in my hometown (rumored), and one in Florida (I actually got to see a picture of it).

I've always been excited by those coins, and the thought of finding one while detecting is an exciting one.

That is supersweet!