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1/2 Florin - John II Barcelona
| Issuer | Catalonia, Principality of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1458-1461 |
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| Value | Log in to see details |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Hammered |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | A large fleur-de-lis occupies the central field, its three lobes boldly rendered in high relief with characteristic Gothic decorative flourishes at the base, filling nearly the entire flan in the manner derived from the Florentine florin prototype. The design is characteristically asymmetric due to the irregular hammered flan. A circular Latin legend surrounds the central device, identifying the issuing monarch. |
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| Mint | Log in to see details |
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| Additional information |
John II inherited the Aragonese Crown in 1458 following the death of Alfonso V, but his relationship with Catalonia deteriorated almost immediately over his imprisonment of his son Charles of Viana — a figure the Catalans had rallied around as a symbol of their autonomy. By 1461, Catalan tensions had escalated to the point of open revolt, making this a remarkably narrow window of issue. The Barcelona mint struck this fractional gold denomination during precisely those years of political collapse that would culminate in the decade-long Catalan Civil War beginning in 1462.