Philip IV Escudo

The Philip IV Escudo was struck using gold from the Americas, a metal that bankrolled Spain's imperial ambitions and lined Europe's pockets for decades.

This gold coin, weighing about 3.38 grams and measuring 20 millimeters across, bore the king's bust on one side and the royal coat of arms on the other. Minted in cities like Madrid or Seville between 1621 and 1665, it reflected the era's economic flux. Wars drained the treasury, so some Escudos might have been produced from recycled metals, though records are spotty.

Exact mintage figures? Gone, likely lost in bureaucratic fires or forgotten archives. What we know is that these coins circulated widely, from Madrid's markets to distant colonies.

As for collectors, they sometimes overvalue the Escudo's rarity; it's common enough that one turned up in my tray just last week.