4 Escudo
Physical Object
1986.008.0040
Santa Margarita (1622)
This four-escudo gold coin was struck at the Seville mint under assayer Melchor Damián, who used a box-like, gothic “D” as his mark. Damián worked from 1566-1586 and 1588-1590. On the obverse, a shield within a beaded circle is a crowned Habsburg coat of arms. On the right-hand side of the shield is “IIII,” the denomination of 4 escudos in Roman numerals. The text of the legend reads PHILIPPVS II DEI GRATIA (Philip II, by the grace of God). On the reverse, the legend continues with +HISPANIARVM REX (King of Spain). The reverse is centered with a cross potent within a quatrefoil and other ornamentation, all surrounded by a beaded circle. Philip II (1556-1598) was the first Spanish king to authorize the striking of coins made from gold produced in the New World, but only by the mint at Seville, where the returning galleons unloaded their treasure at docks a short distance away. So, although this coin was minted in Spain, it likely contains American gold.
13.31 g Weight