5 Groats Besalú, annulet

This piece belongs to one of the most turbulent monetary episodes in Iberian history. In June 1640, Catalonia revolted against Philip IV of Spain in what became known as the Corpus de Sang, and the Generalitat almost immediately faced the practical problem of paying its troops and French allies. Emergency coinage was authorized under the short-lived Catalan Republic, which placed itself under French protection in January 1641. The Besalú mint — a minor operation under ordinary circumstances — was pressed into service precisely because the principal Barcelona facilities were under military pressure.

The annulet variety distinguishes this emission from other Besalú strikes of the same period.