The crowns of Castile and Aragon were united by the marriage of Fernando and Isabella. It was during their reign that the unification of the country’s monetary system was decided by the Pragmatica of Medina del Campo, dated June 13, 1497. The new gold coin, the excelente de la granada, had a value quite close to that of the ducat of Aragon (3.50 g at 23 3/4 carats fine). On the obverse is the royal couple, on the reverse the arms of the unified kingdom protected by an eagle. The double excelente was massively struck in the different mints of the kingdom and was a great success. Multiples of 4, 10, 20 and even 50 excelentes were also minted, most of which are extremely rare. The multiple of 10 excelentes was until now known only from two specimens from the Segovia mint. The only other coin that appeared for sale, from different dies and with the assayer’s mark F, is that of the Huntington collection (Vico sale 130, Madrid, 26 June 2012, 438). Our specimen bears the mark of assayer P, whose quadruple excelente is also known (A.C. 769).
From the collection of Viscount Charles Vilain XIIII (1803-1878), member of the National Congress in 1830-1831, Minister of Foreign Affairs under Leopold I in 1855-1857 and President of the House of Representatives in 1870-1871.
1165. Spain, Fernando and Isabella, multiple of 10 excelentes, n.d.(after 1497), Segovia, assayer P. The only known specimen. Estimate : 100.000 €.