Accession Number

2004.008.0002

Description

Phillip II.

Exhibition Label

Case/Object Caption (2023):

COINS

Silver
(Peru and Mexico, 1600-1621)
Gifts of Robert B. Massey, Dorothy W. Morris, Francis Raymond, Andy Scott, John Scott,
Rodman Sutton, T.S.I. Liquidation Trust, Treasure Salvors, Robert V. Vitolo

1997.007.0001, 1997.007.0003, 1997.007.0011, 1997.008.0005-0007, 1997.009.0001, 2001.009.0003, 2001.011.0004, 2001.011.0007, 2001.011.0014, 2001.011.0017, 2001.011.0031, 2001.012.0013, 2001.012.0027, 2001.012.0032-0033, 2001.012.0035, 2004.008.0002, 2006.001.0003

The empire’s international trade depended on the reliability of its coinage. The coins were meticulously regulated, with each mint overseen by an assayer appointed by the king. The assayer had full legal responsibility for the mint’s output, and each coin made under his administration had to be marked with his initial.

But it was a hasty process. The king had debts to pay, and the silver had to be shipped promptly. Discs were chopped off a bar whose diameter conformed to a specific coin size. Each coin was then weighed and stamped but any that were too heavy were clipped, no matter if it made the coin lopsided. Coins that were too light were re-processed.