May 23, 2024. The Real Ingenio de la Moneda de Segovia began its activity in 1586 and coined a great variety of coins and medals of great quality, among them, during the seventeenth century, the main monetary jewels of the Hispanic Monarchy: the enormous fifties (50 reais of silver) and centenes (100 shields of gold), both of 76 mm in diameter and, in the case of the Centén, of 359 grs. of heavy gold.
The Museo Real Casa de la Moneda of the FNMT exhibits in its rooms a Centén, unique in the world and, therefore, the most important piece of its collection. Its lamination is the best documented of all the Segovian hundredths, since the circumstances and its exact date of manufacture are known: on 15 September 1623, on the occasion of the visit to the Royal Ingenuity of the Prince of Wales, future Charles I of England (accompanied by the Duke of Buckingham), date on which seven specimens of 100 escudos were laminated in his presence, six of which remain unknown. This is the reason for these new coins that reproduce in one of them, this unique piece and in the other copy, images of the mechanisms used in the Real Ingenio for their coining.
The presentation of this very special coin took place this lunchtime in the rooms of the Real Casa de la Moneda in charge of D. Nicanor Jorge Sen Vélez, Government Delegate in the Community of Castilla y León,
D. José Mazarias Pérez. Mayor of the city and Dª. Isabel Valldecabres, General Director of the National Mint and Real Mint House Mint Factory. Other authorities and representatives such as Dª have attended the event.
Marian Rueda, Deputy Delegate of the Government in Segovia, Dª. May Escobar, Third Deputy Mayor and Councillor of Tourism, as well as collectors and numismatic distributors.
With this new coining, the links between both houses of currency are strengthened. It should be remembered that, at the request of the National Currency and Stamp Factory, the City of Segovia obtained the ownership of this building in 1989. The FNMT is involved and advises the Consistory in the project of functional recovery of the Real Ingenio, from the technical, historical or museum point of view. The recovery works were carried out between 2007 and 2011, being presented the refurbished Real Ingenio, and inaugurated the current Museum of the Real Casa de Moneda de Segovia, in 2012, being considered as the best industrial building of the sixteenth century in the world.
This new series dedicated to the numismatic treasures that make up the important collection of the Real Casa de la Moneda Museum begins with these two coins, in an edition limited to 2,500 units that represent the Centén and another 7,000 units dedicated to the Real Ingenio. Its features and description are detailed below.
The coins can be purchased in Numismatic and philatelic stores, the Virtual Store of the Real Casa de la Moneda www.fnmt.es/tienda, in the Museum Store in Madrid, Calle Doctor Esquerdo 36, or by telephone 91 – 566 65 42
Parts Features:
CENTEN
- Currency of 100 euro of facial value.
- Composition: Silver of 925 thousandths, the rest being of copper, coated with gold of 999 thousandths
- Tolerance in law: minimum content of 925 thousandths of silver and minimum coating content of 999 thousandths of gold Metric: Centén
- Weight: 168.75 g with a tolerance of more or less than 1 g Diameter: 73 mm.
- Shape: Circular with smooth edge. Quality: Proof
- The maximum number of pieces to coin: 2,500 units Sale Price: 340 euros (without VAT)
Motives:
On the obverse is reproduced, in the center of the coin and within a circle, an image of the obverse of a Centén coined in Segovia in 1623 under the reign of Philip IV. At the top of the coin, in a circular and capital sense, is the legend SPAIN and the year of coining 2023. At the bottom of the piece, in a circular sense and in capital letters, the legend IV CENTENARIO DEL CENTÉN. A graphic of pine nuts surrounds the motifs and legends.
On the reverse is reproduced, in the center of the coin and within a circle, an image of the reverse of a Centén coined in Segovia in 1623 under the reign of Philip IV. At the top of the coin is the face value of 100 EURO, flanked by the Ceca brand. At the bottom of the piece, in a descending circular direction and in upper case, there is the legend JEWELS OF THE MUSEUM CASA DE LA MONEDA. An allegorical graph of hydraulic movement surrounds the motifs and legends.
8 REAIS
- Coin of 10 euro of facial value.
- Composition: Silver of 925 thousandths, the rest being copper Tolerance in law: Minimum Content of 925 Thousandths of Silver Metric: Eight reais.
- Weight: 27 g, with a tolerance of more or less than 0.27 g Diameter: 40 mm.
- Shape: Circular with striated edge. Quality: Proof
- The maximum number of pieces to coin: 5,000 units Sale Price: 60 euros (without VAT)
Motives:
On the obverse is reproduced an image of the hydraulic coining wheels of the Real Ingenio de Segovia. At the top, in a circular and upper case sense, there is the legend SPAIN and the year of coining 2023. At the bottom of the piece, in a circular sense and in capital letters, the legend IV CENTENARIO DEL CENTÉN. An allegorical graph of hydraulic movement surrounds the motifs and legends.
On the reverse side, an image of some coining rollers is reproduced. Above the image, the face value 10 EURO appears; on its right the Ceca mark. At the top of the piece, in an ascending circular sense and in upper case, the legend JEWELS OF THE MUSEUM CASA DE LA MONEDA. A graphic of pine nuts surrounds the motifs and legends.