Alfonso VIII Real
Spain
1158–1214
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Market Price Range
Based on 2 eBay listings · Prices vary by grade and condition
Specifications
| Country | Spain |
| Years Minted | 1158–1214 |
| Composition | Silver |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
Design
Obverse
Obverse features the name or monogram of Alfonso VIII, often with inscriptions indicating his title as King of Castile.
Reverse
Reverse typically displays a cross or Christian symbols, common for medieval Spanish coinage.
History & Notable Facts
Alfonso VIII's real often featured the bold castle and lion motifs, symbols that asserted Castile's sovereignty amid the Reconquista's chaos.
These silver coins were struck in various mints across his kingdom, likely including Toledo, though exact locations for some issues remain murky due to lost medieval records. The real served as a workhorse currency, its weight standardized around 3.5 grams to facilitate trade in a fractured Iberia. We know Alfonso used such coins to pay troops and allies, but specifics on annual output vanished long ago, probably in one of Europe's many archival fires.
For a coin from that era, the real holds up surprisingly well, with survivors showing crisp details despite centuries of wear. If you're examining one, note the crude edge; early medieval minting wasn't exactly precision engineering.
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