It's Monday again, it keeps poking up it's ugly head once a week! At least tomorrow will be Tuesday...
Today I decided to share one of my older coins from Spain. Is it the prettiest coin in my collection? Absolutely not! I remember buying it just because it was minted in 1870, I've always liked older coins, even when they are worn and have lost their luster they once had when they were new. It always makes me think about all the people who could have held this coin in their hands over the years. It's really a shame coins can't talk. It would be fascinating to know what it was spent on over it's 155 year lifespan.
My collection of Spanish coins is pretty limited, as I never really got into collecting their coins. The one's that most interest me are the ones for the day's of piracy in Caribbean. Shipwreck coins are really cool, but also very expensive! That is, of course, unless you find them on the beach along Florida's Treasure Coast from the lost Spanish fleet of 1715. I, however, have never been that lucky! So I am limited to what I have bought over the years.
This coin, although very worn, does have some interesting history behind it. We'll get into that in a minute, first have a look at this piece of silver history:
About the coin:
From numista.com
The first thing I like about this coin is it's silver content, just being honest. It's 83.5% silver, which is kind of an odd amount, but it's still silver! It also has the typical reverse design featuring the crowned coat of arms of Spain inside the Pillars of Hercules. I'll talk about those in a minute, as they aren't actually pillars, they're geographical features. On the obverse (front) of the coin it has crowned Hispania with her feet on Gibraltar, which plays into the aforementioned pillars.
Pillars of Hercules
breezemorat.blogspot.com
The Pillars of Hercules define the entrance into the straits of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean from the Atlantic Ocean. Geographically it is composed of the Rock of Gibraltar on the European side and Jabel Musa in Morocco on the African side. In the picture above at Gibraltar you can see Jabel Musa in the background. It's the one spot you can see both Europe and Africa at the same time, which is pretty cool.
In antiquity Hercules performed twelve labors, among them involves the creation of the straits by destroying a mountain in-between them and connected the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. In another version he pulls the to Rock of Gibraltar closer to Jabel Musa to keep sea monsters from entering into the Mediterranean. And from this mythology we have the Pillars of Hercules, geographical features of Africa and Europe.
Many artists have captured the mythology in sculpture and painting. In Ceuta, an autonomous city of Spain on the North African coast, has Hercules depicted with the pillars in sculpture. It is located right next to the the strait so it's very fitting. Ceuta is interesting in that technically it is part of Spain in Africa. Just a little known factoid. It does have a long and interesting history, so if you want to read more I put the Wikipedia page in my references. I have never seen the strait myself when I have visited Spain, I've never made it that far south. Maybe someday!
manmythmagic.blogspot.com
Hispania
nato.int
Hispania is the personification of Spain, and above you can see a statute of her atop the Library of Spain. Hispania first appeared in Roman Republic around 81 B.C. on various coins produced by Rome. Later she became a more important figure to Rome in around 68 to 69 A.D. Around that time she appeared on many coins and was an important symbol to the Romans. What I found interesting is just how much the coin below has a reverse that looks like the more modern personification on my coin. Eventually she faded from Roman coins as different eras of rule came about.
Wikipedia.com
In 1869 Queen Isabella II of Spain was overthrown, and Hispania appeared as the personification of Spain the very same year. The coin I'm sharing was produced from 1869 until 1870 after the overthrow of Isabella. She was replaced by Amadeo the first. He quickly lost the support of the Spanish people and abdicated the throne to Isabella's son Alfonso XII following an assassination attempt. I guess it's not always good to be king!
That will wrap up my post for this Monday. I hope you enjoyed seeing the coin as well as learning a little more about the Pillars of Hercules and Hispania. Please feel free to ask any questions or comments below, and thank you everyone for all of your support. It's deeply appreciated. Have a great day everyone!
References:
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces8570.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillars_of_Hercules
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceuta
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispania_%28personification%29
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amadeo_I_of_Spain
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfonso_XII
Disclaimer:
All pictures are mine unless otherwise indicated
I am not a financial planner and this isn't financial advice. Please always do your own research before investing your money. You worked hard enough to earn it!
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