PHILIP II

During these years, the Madrid mint was located in the former house and workshop of the renowned Italian artist Jacopo da Trezzo (Jacometrezo), who worked extensively for Philip II on the construction of El Escorial. The building itself was designed by Juan de Herrera. After Jacometrezo's death in 1589, the property passed into royal hands, and the Crown decided to establish a mint there to produce coinage using the new ingenio de la tijera technique, invented by Miguel de la Cerda. Gold coins of 2 and 4 escudos (as well as silver issues) were struck at this facility. A significant innovation was the introduction of explicit dating on coins starting in 1591, in compliance with the ordinance issued by the Pragmatic Sanction of San Lorenzo (July 2, 1588). The assayer responsible for these issues was Melchor Rodríguez del Castillo (C).