Philip III Real

The Philip III real was struck from silver mined in the New World's Potosí deposits, a metal lifeline that bankrolled Spain's endless wars and explorations.

This coin, denominated at one real, bore the king's profile on the obverse and the Pillars of Hercules on the reverse, symbols of Spain's far-flung domains. Minters in Seville and other hubs produced them in varying quality, depending on the silver's purity and the craftsmen's mood that day. We don't know exact mintages for most years; archives from the period were as reliable as a sieve.

Overstruck on older planchets to save costs, these reales often show traces of previous designs, a numismatic palimpsest. If you're lucky, you might find one that's seen more of the world than you have.