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Meaja - Alfonso VIII stars 2-3
| Issuer | Castile, Kingdom of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1158-1214 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| 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 | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | A plain Greek cross occupies the central field, its four arms extending toward a beaded or linear border. Six-pointed stars or small star-shaped pellets appear in the second and third quarters of the cross, a diagnostic feature distinguishing this variety. The encircling legend +TOLLETA, referencing the mint city of Toledo, runs along the outer border of the reverse field. |
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| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Plain |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
Alfonso VIII came to the throne as a child of three, and the first decade of his reign was consumed by noble factions — the Lara and Castro families — fighting over his guardianship and the revenues that came with it. Monetary production during these years was erratic and poorly documented, which partly explains why attribution of meajas to specific sub-periods within his long reign remains contested among specialists. The stars flanking the castle serve as the primary diagnostic for this variety, with the 2-3 arrangement distinguishing it from otherwise near-identical dies.