Catholic Kings (1474-1504). 1/8 real. Granada. (Cal-153, same dies). Anv.: · FERNANDVS · D · G · REX ·. F coronada entre G y roel. Rev.: hELISABET · D · G : REG ·. Y coronada. Ag. 0,40 g.

Second known example. Light patina and a small bend at one of the edges. Extremely rare, of the highest numismatic interest and historical importance.

It would be a delight for any collector and an excellent opportunity to acquire a wonderful specimen that would be a highlight in any coin collection and we are sure we will not see it offered at auction for many years again. The other specimen (made with the same dies) was auctioned on December 12, 2018, by Áureo & Calicó as part of the Isabel de Trastámara collection, with a hammer price of €65,000.

This exceptional ⅛ real fraction, minted in the Granada mint under Christian rule, stands as a unique numismatic testimony to the political, economic, and cultural unification process undertaken by the Catholic Monarchs after the conquest of the Nasrid Kingdom in 1492. It belongs to the period of monetary reorganization led by the monarchy, aimed at strengthening royal authority through a uniform monetary system centered around the silver real.

Although the Pragmatic of Medina del Campo (1497) is the most well-known legal reference for this reform, its foundations can be traced back to the Pragmática of 1417 (under Juan II), which established the real as the basic monetary unit. From 1475 onward, the Catholic Monarchs revived this model and promoted the issuance of smaller denominations, such as this ⅛ real, to support local trade and circulation in newly incorporated territories.

What makes this coin particularly fascinating is its square shape—atypical within the traditional Castilian monetary system. This form may have been a deliberate strategy to emulate the old ¼ dirhams, which circulated widely in the Kingdom of Granada before its conquest. Thus, this small coin served as a cultural bridge, designed to facilitate its acceptance among the Mudéjar population, blending familiar aesthetics with the Christian symbols of the new rulers: Ferdinand’s yoke, Isabella’s arrows, and possibly the heraldic pomegranate or the “G” mintmark.

As such, this coin carries immense historical and symbolic value, embodying the intersection of civilizations during a pivotal moment in Iberian history. Its rarity, integrative purpose, and possible political significance make it a highly prized piece for collectors of medieval coinage and those interested in the Catholic Monarchs . Almost XF. Est...35000,00.