ヌミスマアカデミー オンラインショップ

在位期間: 1598年〜1621年
鋳造時期: 1609年
鋳造地: メキシコ
NGC鑑定番号: 3607470-001
NGC鑑定結果:「 AU 55」
過去のオークション歴: Heritage Auction Galleries Auction 2014年1月6日Nb: 3030 (Lot Nb 24649) 落札額: 111,625ドル　(為替/関税換算で:約1400万円)
参考専門書: Lazaro-35 (This Coin) ！！
特記: Ex: Huntington Collection
特記その2: 本品1609年MOのRoyal Coinageで「2個」しか知られていません。

(出典Wikiより)

フェリペ3世（Felipe III, 1578年4月14日 - 1621年3月31日[1]）は、スペイン、ナポリ・シチリア、ポルトガルの王（在位：1598年 - 1621年）。
フェリペ2世と最後の妻である神聖ローマ皇帝マクシミリアン2世の娘アナとの間に生まれた末子である。

ポルトガル王としてはフィリペ2世。

祖父カルロス1世（神聖ローマ皇帝カール5世）は世界最大の植民地帝国を築いた人物、父フェリペ2世はスペイン帝国に黄金時代をもたらした人物である。生まれつき病弱であったため、年老いてゆく父は息子の将来に不安を抱いた。「怠惰王」と呼ばれたフェリペ3世の23年に及ぶ治世を取り仕切ったのは、首席大臣のレルマ公爵あるいはウセダ公爵であったが、彼らはこの大帝国の国政を担うにはいささか力不足であり、フェリペ2世が残した世界帝国は衰退への道を歩み始めることとなる。

1609年、スペイン全土からモリスコ（キリスト教に改宗したイスラム教徒）の追放が行われた。

その数は27万人に及び、ほとんど農民であったため、スペイン農業は大打撃を受け、深刻な食糧不足に陥ったといわれる。なお、1615年1月30日には、慶長遣欧使節の支倉常長と面会している。



Felipe III Royal 8 Reales 1609 Mo-A, Lazaro-35 (this coin). AU55 NGC. Ex: Huntington Collection.
Minimal wear, attractive old toning, and slight (non-distracting) doubling in the obverse's legends. Also well struck, as can be expected from a fully round piece. An old rubbing of this coin is plated by Lazaro as his #35.

Numerous common details between the actual coin and that rubbing can be found, the most telling perhaps being the small planchet flaw between the "H" and the "I" in "PHILLIPVS" and the small nick on the shield to the left of the "8", both on the obverse.

An examination of the actual coin allows for further detail. It has a perfect coin rotation (Lazaro guessed a somewhat shifted one) - a further testimony to the great care that was taken in its striking , and it is also of the same type as Lazaro #36 - since the legend on the obverse also ends with a four pointed star. Thus Lazaro's 35 and 36 are only different die varieties of the same subtype.

The true nature of the "Royal" coinage is still subject to debate. Although clearly not restricted to be presentation coins to the King himself (many found in fact their way into circulation more than two centuries later, as evidenced by the few specimens existing with the Guatemala series of revalidation countermarks applied in the 1840s), these pieces were undoubtedly special items. Many of the coins countermarked in Guatemala show little circulation, pointing to their hoarding during the mentioned 200-year interval. In addition, that they were prized items suitable as gifts from special occasions can be deduced from a little known reference by Mexican numismatist Romero de Terreros: quoting the work Diario de sucesos notables : 1665-1703, by Antonio de Robles, he wrote that on May 16 sup th /sup , 1703 a comedy in the honor of the Viceroy and Duke of Albuquerque was given at the Mint (of Mexico), the cost of which was covered by its Treasurer don Francisco de Medina Picazo, who is said to have given to each of the Viceroys and to their daughter one thousand pesos manufactured in the style of the segovian ones.

This is a clear reference to the round pieces of eight struck in Segovia at that time (perhaps KM227?) and thus a contemporary description of the Mexican "Royal" 1703 8 Reales. If coins of this type were worthy as gifts to the Viceroy of New Spain, they are surely worthy of the finest cabinets of our time!

Being the finest of two known of this date, and among the first dated "Royal" 8 Reales of the Mexico City mint, this jewel represents a striking testimony of that mint's technical and artistic capabilities at that time. A very special rarity, and should attract serious interest.