1 Obol - Ferdinand II transfer of Sant James

Ferdinand II of León struck these small billon pieces as part of broader monetary agreements tied to his contentious relationship with the military orders operating along the Leonese-Portuguese frontier. The "transfer of Sant James" designation connects this type to Ferdinand's dealings with the Order of Santiago, founded in 1170 and granted substantial territorial and fiscal privileges by the Leonese crown during precisely this period.

At 0.27 g, these obols circulated at the lowest practical denomination — the kind of coin that passes through dozens of hands before anyone bothers to scrutinize it, which partly explains survival rates.