A record. A Spanish gold coin dating to the early 17th century sold for more than 3 million euros in Geneva, a record for European currency, Numismatica Genevensis (NGSA), which was responsible for the sale, announced on Tuesday.
The “Centén Segoviano” dating from 1609, the first to be minted, “stood out for its historic character and absolute rarity” during Monday’s auction, said a press release by the NGSA company, which specializes in the prestigious field of numismatics (the study of coins).
The piece made of 340 grams of gold sold for 2.8 million Swiss francs, or more than 3 million euros, including the buyer’s commission.
No information was provided regarding the seller and buyer, but the starting price was 2 million Swiss francs (approximately 2.1 million euros). It “thus became the most expensive European currency in history”, underlines the NGSA. “The previous record was held by a 100 ducat coin, depicting Ferdinand III of Habsburg, which sold for 1.95 million Swiss francs hammer” a few days ago, according to a press release.
“Show the power and wealth of the Spanish Empire”
The weight of the Centén Segoviano “proves that this work was never intended for everyday use, but rather served as a presentation piece intended to demonstrate the power and wealth of the Spanish Empire to everyone,” explained the auction house, in a presentation document.
Centén was born “in an era of extraordinary luxury, sparked by the Spanish conquest of the New World,” he continued. This coin has a crowned shield on the obverse and a Spanish Cross in the form of a quatrefoil on the reverse.
“During the 16th century, Europe’s main currency was produced in Hall, Tyrol, but to match this quality, King Philip II entered into negotiations with his cousin Ferdinand of Tyrol,” recalls the NGSA.
Austrian technicians were sent to Segovia to convert an old paper mill into a monetary workshop. Production began in 1586 with items other than the Centén, which came only a few years later under the reign of Philip III, according to the auction house.
