100 Euro IV Centenary of the 'Centén'

The "centén" was a 100-escudo gold piece issued under Philip IV beginning in 1609, struck at enormous weight to serve as a presentation piece and diplomatic gift rather than circulating currency — the Spanish crown used them to impress foreign dignitaries and reward high officials. The four-century anniversary being marked here is thus for a coin that functionally never changed hands in trade.

The gold-plated silver construction follows a format the Real Casa de la Moneda has used repeatedly for its large-format commemoratives, allowing the visual impression of gold at a fraction of the bullion cost.