Spanish maravedí

The Maravedí than gold coin also Marabotin was a centuries- long common in Spain coin and currency of account, he was the currency unit of Spain used the longest. Its history began in the 12th century with the first coinage than gold coin of about 3.8 grams and led numerous devaluations, the temporary use as a pure currency of account, to small copper coins in 1854.

• 8.1 Hispaniola (16th century)
• 8.2 Oran ( North Africa, 17th Century )
• 8.3 Isla Margarita (South America, 1810)

Etymology

The term is derived from the name of the Almoravids in Europe (Arabic المرابطون, DMG al - Murabitun, singular مرابط / Murabit ) known Berber dynasty, the first this coin in al- Andalus ( الأندلس / al -Andalus ) could characterize as a gold coin. First, the term Morabatín was used, which was to Maravedí in further use. The vocabulary Maravedí has a special feature three different plural forms: maravedis is the usual plural formation, Maravedíses follows the shape often used for nouns ending in- í. Maravedíes is a plural formation rarely used.

Gold Dinars of the Almoravids until the 12th century

At the conquest of parts of the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century, the Moors brought with them their own coinage. This was used in al -Andalus, including the Caliphate, the taifa kingdoms created in the 10th century, and in the Emirate of Granada until the completion of the Reconquista in 1492. Until the 12th century, the golden dinars had received in Christian Spain as payment recognition. The trading partners of the Moors in Christian Spain and the rest of Europe demanded payment in gold coins. So the Marabotin of the Almoravids and the Almohads were the double dinar until the 12th century known throughout Europe and accepted as currency.

Spanish gold maravedis from the 11th to 13th century

The Arab Maravedí were later imitated by the Christian kings of northern Spain. Such gold coins exist from Castile by Alfonso VIII, of the kings of León Ferdinand II and Alfonso IX. , And as Morabitinos of the kings of Portugal. The Coin weights were maintained, so that the coins were not based as almost all European kingdoms on the coinage of the Carolingians. A Maravedí corresponded to an Arab Dinar.

Castile

As a result of the transition of the reign of the Almoravids to the Almohad and the collapse of the Taifa Kingdoms took place in Castile to a shortage of gold coins. Under Alfonso VIII (reigned 1158-1214 ), therefore, in 1172 the minting their own coins was decided. The beaten by Alfonso VIII of Castile gold dinars were called to distinguish them from those of the Almoravids also Alfonsinischer Marabotin. The first coins struck in Toledo Castile contributed, such as those of the Almoravids, only an Arabic inscription. The design of the coins meant that they could only be beaten in Toledo because of the required knowledge of the Arabic script. This made the city over the centuries into the most important mint of Spain. The use of the Arabic script and the unchanged Münzgewichte had primarily the function of the cash to gain wide acceptance.

Alfonso VIII used the design of the coins but also as a means of expressing religious and political understanding. The later struck coins also have an Arabic inscription, front side is, however, the top of the medallion a cross as a Christian symbol. Among the reference is to the Imam as the highest religious authority, as with the coins of the Almoravids without mention of the name, but to be understood as a reference to the pope. In the bottom line the letters ALF are presented as reference by name to the secular rulers and minting authority Alfred VIII The inscription is a profession of the Christian faith. As the coins of the Almoravids quote at this point the first part of the Shahada is on the coins Alfonso VIII called and explained that only the baptized will be rewarded with eternal life for the Trinity.

The back inscription refers in Arabic script on the King. As the coins of the Almoravids denote the respective rulers as Amir al - Muslimim, Alfonso VIII chose the name Amir al - Qatuliqin, " Prince of Catholics ." It is followed by the name of Alfonso VIII as Alfuns ben Sanyu, " Alfonso, son of Sancho ", with an appeal to God for the protection of the monarch. The inscription of the back is called the Mint Toledo and the year 1224. Unlike the Almoravid coins which a date was mentioned in the Islamic calendar, which show annual figures after the Spanish Era, the coins Alfonso VIII. The indication of the year is unusual for medieval coin issues Christian rulers and became common in the 16th century. The year on the coin means in the Christian era in 1186 AD, further imprints show converted the information in 1187 and 1213. The Alfonsine maravedis were because of their status as official gold and its single gold grade for preferred gold coin in the Christian part of the Iberian Peninsula. The embossing of these coins was continued until the reign of Henry I..

Leon

Ferdinand II of León ( r. 1157-1188 ) made ​​after the first coins Alfonso VIII of Castile also propose Maravedí that have the same weight and gold content of the coins Castile. The obverse of the coins shows the head of the king, on the back of the mounted king is depicted with his sword raised. The coins bear no reference to the Moors. They were Alfonsí as second Maravedí than Maravedí de busto, Maravedí nuevo or Maravedí Leonés called. Of these coins, very few pieces have survived.

Other Spanish " Maravedí "

There are other coins from the Spanish Middle Ages, occasionally counted in older literature on the Maravedí, or be regarded as the direct precursor. Alfonso VI. of León was after taking Toledo to 1085 Dinars and half Dinars beat of silver. These coins bore the inscription, the Islamic creed " There is no God but God", a reference to the year of the surrender of the city and Toledo as the place of manufacture. 1157 were struck under Ferdinand II of León (reigned 1157-1188 ) Silberdenare, Leones, who showed his chest image and a lion waiting to pounce.

Maravedis in the 13th to 14th century

Under Ferdinand III. (reigned 1217-1230 Castile until 1252 Castile and Leon ) gold coins were struck in the weight of the Muslim half dinars, which were designated Maravedí bueno, but had only three-fifths of the weight of a Alfonsinsichen Maradeví. After this coin came into circulation was the Muslim Dinar referred to as " double Maravedí " or Dobla, it the name " doubloon " goes back. The Alfonsinische Maravedí, also under the names Maravedí viejo, Maravedí castellano or Alfonsí, remained until the reign of Alfonso X the most important gold coin in circulation. In addition, Ferdinand was a silver coin, the León, and beat the Pepiones, of which 180 were left in a Maravedí bueno.

1252 managed Alfonso X of Castile and Leon (reigned 1252-1284 ), the silver - León Ferdinand and the Pepiones again. He led the silver maravedis blancos or maravedis de los a Burgaleses, six of them corresponded to an old gold Maravedí. These coins were later given the other names maravedis viejos, Moneda Moneda viejo or blanca. Even after six years moved Alfons this money out of circulation and replaced it with Billonmünzen with the names Maravedíses negros, maravedis de los Prieto Prieto or minted as coins until the late 15th century under Isabell I and Ferdinand II. The introduction of an already by Ferdinand III. prepared new gold currency, which leaned on the double din Almohad and took over the shekel of it was the end of Maravedí than gold coin. At the same time the new currency was no longer calculated on the Roman Libra but to the Cologne mark. In this monetary reform, in which a Golddublone assigned by 35 Maravedí a value, the use of Maravedí goes back as unit of account.

1281 led Alfonso X a second series of "white " coins Blanco segundo or maravedis Novenes. Four maravedis Novenes corresponded to a Maravedí de los Prieto, ten maravedis Novenes a Maravedí de los Burgaleses, or sixty maravedis Novenes an old gold Maravedí. These coins were minted during the 13th century, and I. John (reigned 1379-1390 ) as " current maravedis ," compared to the old maravedis de los burgaleses, which were also called " maravedis good currency."

Among the coins Alfonso X arrived in 1286 by his successor Sancho IV (reigned 1284-1295 ) introduced Coronado, later also called Cornado, six of which corresponded to a " Burgalese ". More important was the introduction of a new series of gold coins by Alfonso XI. (reigned 1312-1350 ). He created the Doblas, later also called Castellanos, a gold coin weighing initially 48 Doblas from 989er gold on a Cologne mark, which took over the role of Maravedí in coinage. Under the reign of Peter I of Castile and Leon (reigned 1350-1369 ) of the Real de Plata was introduced with 66 Reales to a Cologne mark, a Maravedí corresponded to 1/34 Real or 1/30 Castellano.

There were also coins to two, four, six and eight Maravedí whose value has been changed frequently by counterpunch. Under the reign of Henry III. (r. 1390-1406 ), there were eventually 132 different coins in the kingdom. The lack of small coins for everyday use and the greater appreciation for the gold coins from France and other countries meant that the Spanish gold coins were gradually converted into small foreign coins and the Treasury waned. One result was that unusual transactions were mainly conducted with foreign or illegally produced copper coins.

Maravedis in the 15th and 16th centuries

In the 13th and 14th century coinage in Castile and Leon had disintegrated into anarchy. During this time, the value of the key for the population Maravedí dropped enormously, a Cologne mark in 1312 was still charged 130 Maravedí, there were already 2,210 Maravedí because of the reduced silver content in 1474. There were more than 150 legal and countless illegal mints, the gold content of the coins went from 23.5 carats down to 7 carats, the silver currency suffered a similar fate. Of the Billonmünzen there were eight classes, the different denominations of the Real from 1/6 to 1/58 represented and in turn existed in various multiples or fractions. Henry IV tried arranging intervene and reduced the number of mints to six. He reformed the currency and declared the old doubloon under the names Enrique, or Castellano, Double Weight, Dobla castellana to the gold standard. The Real de la Plata was the silver standard, and Blanca or media blanca (half Blanca ) worth third or sixth Maravedí the small Billonmünzen. The coinage reforms Henry IV should make the Maravedí, who was primarily a designation for certain coins until then, the commonly used unit of account. But not succeeded Henry IV, to enforce his ideas.

The reign of Isabella I and Ferdinand II (r. 1474-1504 ) brought to the end of the century, eleven new Münzordnungen. The 1475 confirmed the coinage of Henry IV and put the value of a silver Real on 30 Maravedí fixed. Heinrichs standard gold coin Dobla Castellana became Excelente. The Excelente had a value of 870 Maravedí, according to the Enrique Castellano or 435 Maravedí. The Dobla de la Banda, which was not beaten but was continued in circulation, had a lower gold content and its value was set to 335 Maravedí.

From 1480 was the Real de la Plata, essentially set as a result of shortage of materials, to a value of 31 to each 3 Maravedí Blanca. For the mass of the population were only the small coins of importance, it was the further Blanca Henry IV in circulation since 1475 no new coinages were initiated. These small coins gradually disappeared and were replaced by foreign coins in everyday life.

1497 replaced Isabella I of León and Ferdinand II of Aragon the Excelente by the Venetian ducats as a new gold coin, as this was used in the Christian kingdoms and principalities on. The coinage of half, whole and double ducats was arranged, the double ducat was the most frequently embossed gold coin. The new Golddukat was based on the old doubloon the name Excelente or Excelente de la Granada, the naming played on five years earlier was handing over the city of Granada by the Moors. The new Excelente had a value of 375 Maravedí. As silver currency of the Real de la Plata was confirmed a Real now corresponded to 34 maravedis. The Maravedí was now no longer divided in three but in two Blanca.

1537 the ratio of Maravedí to the gold standard was changed, now came to a ducat 350 maravedis, and in 1566 400 maravedis. The ratio for silver remained unchanged both times. The Maravedí was now in the everyday life of the population, the unit of account, although there were no coins of that name. If statements in real or Dukat was made ​​a conversion in Maravedí on the basis of fixed ratios of gold, silver and Billonwährung another problem. The goal withdraw the circulating illegal and foreign coinage in favor of the new small allowance was not achieved.

Maravedis in the 17th to 18th centuries

In the 17th and 18th centuries, there was a dramatic increase in the output of Billonmünzen so that their value fell rapidly. The Maravedí 1609 against the escudo devalued by 10%, so this was worth 440 Maravedí now. At the same level of charges were placed on the fixed conversion value on gold and silver coins, these coins disappeared then in large numbers out of circulation. 1625, such premiums of more than 10 % were forbidden under pain of severe penalties. The limits were raised in 1636 to 25% in 1641 to 50%. As of 1642 the Real was divided into 45 Maravedí. Until 1680 the Golddublone reached a value of 110 in Real Billonmünzen, and the silver Real had a value of 29 in Real Billon.

From 1686 the escudo de la Plata was introduced as a new coin, which provided for a reduction of the silver weight by 25 % without compromising the existing coins from circulation. The result was that now two silver currencies coexisted. Also a new Billonwährung was created without also abolish the old Billonwährung. Until the 19th century coinage reforms were carried out repeatedly that affected the purity and weight of gold and silver coins. Their goal, the constant increase in the valuation of the gold and silver currency in comparison with copper currency remedy was achieved with no action.

End of maravedis in the 19th century

All coinage reforms since 1497 had left the ratio of silver to Real Maradeví untouched. 1834 the equivalent of the silver real was lowered from 34 to 32 Maravedí, at the same time, the silver content of the real on 875/1000 has been reduced. A second law aimed to prevent the circulation of French coins. These measures did not produce the desired results. 1847 the decimal system was adopted with a real 100 centimes for the Real, since 1859 only applies in Spain, the decimal system adopted by France. The last time the Maravedí 1854 output as a coin with a portrait of Queen Isabella II of Spain. At this time, the conversion of the Spanish currency to the decimal centimes already in circulation in the frame. When the coins to 8 Maravedí with the year of issue 1855 or 1858 is counterfeit.

Maravedis outside Spain

With the Real de Plata Maravedí arrived in the Spanish possessions overseas and was there for the currency unit.

Hispaniola (16th century)

In the early 16th century used the Spanish bars and plates made ​​from local impure gold, in which they beat value data according to the Spanish currency. Later on a large scale circulating fake Spanish gold coins, the main currency, the silver real. To 1528 there were complaints that the gold content of the peso d' Oro accounting for only 19 carat or less, yet Maravedí were specified as the value of the coin 450 instead of 375. Until the mid-16th century, the lack of small coins was repeatedly complained, including the silver reals. One problem was the difference in the valuation of the Reals, the 34 Maravedí was in Spain, on Hispaniola, however, 44 Maravedí. A royal decree of 1538 laid down 34 Maravedí for a real, but at this time were already very large amounts Reales in circulation. The revision resulted in the minting of silver coins fell sharply, and the complaints about the "bad money from Hispaniola " kept to 1565.

Oran ( North Africa, 17th Century )

In the 17th century North African city of Oran was repeatedly occupied by Spain. 1618 and 1691 appeared Local coins with the crowned arms of Castile and León and the back label ORAN. The coins were struck in Toledo and the denomination was the Maravedí.

Isla Margarita (South America, 1810)

1810, declared the Isla Margarita, now a part of Venezuela, for independent and joined a short time later the former Spanish viceroyalty of New Granada to. During this period, coins were issued to 4 Maravedí or medals. On the front side, they show three men in a boat with the inscription MARGARITA PERLA PRECIOSA, at the back the inscription DA FX DIA DE MAIO 4 in 1810, with the digit is in the middle and is surrounded by seven stars. Whether it is coins to four Maravedí, or only for medals, with whom May 4 to be celebrated as a day of independence, has not yet been decided by the numismatic research.

The Maravedí in everyday culture

In Miguel de Cervantes ' work Don Quixote, published in 1605 and 1613, the Maravedí is mentioned thirteen times. At one point the hero muses on Arabic loan words in Spanish that start with Al- mainly, and calls the Maravedí as one of only three derived from the Arabic words that do not begin with Al, but ending in- i.

The copper coins to two and four Maravedí had their own names in the vernacular. So the two Ochavo was called, and the four Cuarto. In addition, there were names for coins that represented a fraction of a Maravedí. A Blanca corresponded to a half or thirds Maravedí. A Cornado, named after the winning king as design which was 1/6 Maravedí. The Maravedí is similar to the Germans of the " dime " or "Brighter ", received by themselves or with one of the designations for its multiples in a range of idioms.