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Obol - James I Barcelona
| Issuer | Catalonia, Principality of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1213-1276 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Obol (1⁄480) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| In circulation to | 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 | A plain Greek cross with equal arms occupies the central field, enclosed within an inner beaded circle. The arms of the cross extend nearly to the inner circle, dividing the field into four equal quadrants. A circular Latin legend reading IACOB REX (James king) surrounds the design between the inner and outer beaded circles, referencing the issuing monarch James I of Aragon. |
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| Additional information |
Jaume I — "El Conqueridor" — ruled longer than almost any medieval Iberian monarch, and his coinage reflects the administrative pressure of a reign that absorbed Majorca in 1229 and Valencia in 1238. The Barcelona mint struck enormous quantities of small billon to supply newly conquered territories with a common transactional currency, which is why surviving obols are typically well-worn; they worked hard in active Mediterranean commerce.
The .167 fineness was fixed deliberately low — enough silver to retain credibility, cheap enough to mint in volume.