Description:
This rare Spanish gold 4 escudos coin was minted in Seville, Spain during the rule of King Philip II, from the House of Habsburg. The obverse of this coin features a cross with crowns in the quarters all within a quatrefoil. On the reverse side is the Philip II crowned coat of arms, with the Seville "S" and assayer gothic "D" mintmarks. During the reign of Philip II, Spain reached the height of its influence and became the foremost global power. This was the "Golden Age of Spain", with its territories and colonies in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Oceana.
With the discovery of untold riches that were mined in the Americas, the Spanish and their mighty galleon fleets were the premier supplier of gold and silver coins for the world. This vastly increased the shipping trade and made many merchants wealthy, both in Spain and in the Colonies. However, during this adventurous age, it was inevitable that large amounts of Spanish treasure would be lost on land and at sea due to pirates, storms and other unforeseen misfortunes.
Spanish gold coinage of this historical period was decreed by the King to be 22 karats and were hand struck from dies and cut to weight, making each coin a one-of-a-kind piece of history. Minted in five denominations in gold, the largest was the 8 escudos, followed by the 4 escudos and the 2 escudos, which was famous in the colonies and among pirates as a "doubloon”. A common working man at this time would have to work eight months to earn a single 4 escudos coin.
