CATHOLIC MONARCHS

The so-called Catholic Monarchs issued their first Castilian monetary ordinance through a Carta de labrar moneda ‘Charter to mint coins’ dated May 23, 1475, in Córdoba. The gold unit was the full excelente (a double castellano), whose obverse legend had already been approved in the Concord of Segovia on January 15, 1475: the king’s name precedes the queen’s, but the titles for Castile precede those of Aragon. These coins feature a distinctive design with both monarchs seated on the throne, and on the reverse, their coats of arms are protected beneath the eagle of St. John. This coin was exceptional; in daily circulation were the castellano (half excelente) and half castellano (quarter excelente), both with simpler designs. The obverse displays only the crowned and facing busts of the monarchs, symbolising their joint rule. The reverse contains only the arms of Castile and León, clearly indicating that it is a solely Castilian coin, meant for circulation only in that realm. Thus, if any symbol had to be removed, it was that of King Ferdinand. The reverse legend of these two lesser coins is a biblical phrase: "QUOS DEUS CONIUNXIT HOMO NON SEPARET" (Matthew 19:6).