July 21, 2016 – In 2016, Spain celebrates the 5th Centenary of Ferdinand II of Aragon, also known as Ferdinand the Catholic by issuing one silver coin minted to the classic metrics of the 8-reales coin, and one gold coin minted to the classic metrics of the 2-escudos coin.
Spain / 100 Euros / Gold .999 / 6.75g / 23mm / Mintage: 2,500.
The obverse reproduces the obverse of a 4-excelentes coin of the Catholic Monarchs struck in Segovia. The reverse replicates an exterior view of the Palace of the Aljaferia in Zaragoza.
Spain / 10 Euros / Silver .925 / 27g / 40mm / Mintage: 7,500.
The obverse portrays a likeness of Ferdinand II of Aragon from a portrait painting housed in Madrid’s Naval Museum.
The reverse features the coat-of-arms of King Ferdinand of Aragon. These arms can be viewed on the ceiling of the first Sala de los Pasos Perdidos in the Palace of the Aljaferia in Zaragoza.
Wedding portrait of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile.
Ferdinand first became King of Sicily as Ferdinand III and then, as a consequence of his marriage to Isabella I, King of Castile jure uxoris as Ferdinand V, before being crowned as King of Aragon in 1479. He is also known for sponsoring the four Christopher Columbus’ voyages between Spain and the Americas.
Please find the website of the Real Casa de la Moneda here.
Read about Ferdinand II of Aragon in Spain – then and now.
And this YouTube video tells you more about Ferdinand and Isabella: the unification of Spain.