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Blanca 'agnus dei' - Juan I Seville
| Issuer | Kingdom of Castile and Leon |
|---|---|
| Year | 1386-1390 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1/2 Blank (1/2 Blanca) (1/5) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | Central field displays the crowned royal monogram of Juan I, consisting of a Gothic letter 'I' (for Ioannes) surmounted by a royal crown with fleur-de-lis finials, all set within a beaded inner circle. The design is bold and deeply struck in the Gothic style characteristic of Castilian hammered coinage of the late 14th century. A Latin legend continues around the periphery within the outer beaded border, completing the Agnus Dei prayer text begun on the obverse. |
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| Additional information |
Juan I introduced the Agnus Dei blanca following the dynastic crisis that consumed Castile through the 1380s — a direct consequence of the Trastámara succession dispute and the English-backed claim of John of Gaunt to the Castilian throne. The lamb and banner type drew on overtly religious iconography at a moment when Juan desperately needed to project divine legitimacy after his catastrophic defeat at Aljubarrota in 1385, where his army was routed by Portuguese and English forces, effectively ending his ambitions over Portugal.
Seville's mint was among the most active in producing this type. The billon alloy varies noticeably across surviving specimens, reflecting ongoing debasement pressures during Juan's final years.