First Coinage Period of Kings Catherine and John of Navarre (1487-1495)

If we look at the coinage of Kings Catherine and John, we must mention that we will talk about the last coinage productions of a united and sovereign Kingdom of Navarre. The coinage in this period is a diverse, rich and extensive one, which took place between 1487 and 1512.

Although the reign of these kings took place between 1483 and 1517, the coins in the Kingdom of Navarre were still minted under the name of Francisco Febo (Francis Phoebus) until 1487.

From 1512 onwards, after the painful episode of the forcible removal of the kingdom, no more coins were minted in Navarre under the names of Catherine and John. The coinage of these kings has two distinct periods, the first between 1487 and 1495 and the second between 1495 and 1512.

We have a wealth of information about this first period, as detailed coinage accounts have survived till our days. The coinage accounts kept in the Chamber of Accounts (Camara de Comptos) provide us with data on the types, laws, names, appearances and amounts of coins minted. Regarding the second period, we have less information. Although we know the types, laws, names and appearances of coins minted, we have not received complete coinage accounts (coinage accounts between 1495 and 1506 are missing) and, consequently, we do not know the total numbers of the different coins minted.

Today we will focus in the first period, in which we have complete knowledge of the specifics and quantities of the specimens produced. As mentioned, this is thanks to the documents preserved in the comptos or account chambers.

As seen in the previous entry corresponding to Francis Phoebus, we will begin today's episode by looking at one of the coins produced in Bearn. This one has historically been called a blanc, and shows the crown of Catherine, as Queen of Navarre, above the Bearnaise coat of arms. The Bearnaise coins were made in the name of Queen Catherine exclusively, without any mention of her husband John. The Navarrese coins show the names of both couple partners.

Silver blanc/quoarder minted at the Morlaas mint in the name of Catherine (1483-1517) Lady of Bearn – 2.24 gr, 23.5mm diameter

Obverse: KTHERINA*DEI*G*DNA*BEARN

Reverse: PAX*ET*HONOR*FORQVIE*MORLA

CGB.FR, INTERNET AUCTION JANUARY 2023, LOT 801806 24.01.2023

The coinage of this first Navarrese period began on March 13, 1487. As in the previous reign, we know the exact details of these coins thanks to the coinage accounts written by the coinage guardian (guarda/garde) Pedro Marzilla de Caparroso.

These accounts have been preserved in two separate documents. The first, consisting of 20 handwritten pages, reflects the regulations, accounts and expenses between March 13th 1487 and the end of October, 1488. It is currently kept in the General Archive of Navarre, under document number 22 inside Box 164.

The second, consisting of 60 handwritten pages, reflects the accounts and expenses between November 1st 1488, and the end of 1493. It is currently kept in the General Archive of Navarre, under document number 23 inside Box 164.

The coronation of the royal couple took place on January 12th 1494, in the Cathedral of Santa María in Pamplona, and there is no evidence of any coinage being made during 1494. The second coinage period began in May 1495. All coinage during this reign was minted in the royal tower house  in Pamplona.

Catherine (1483-1517) Queen of Navarre

The first document (AGN 164. Box, Document 22) contains the accounts of the second minting supervised by the guard Pedro Marzilla (the first minting being composed by the coins minted under the name of previous king Francisco Febo, contained in AGN 164. Box, Document 21). These second accounts were handed over by Pedro Marzilla to the representatives of the Chamber of Accounts appointed by the king on 25th November 1488. The accounts provide us all the properties, quantities and variations of the coins minted between the beginning of March 1487 and the end of October 1488. During these twenty months, as well as the five years and two months that followed (Nov.1488-1493) reflected in the third coinage accounts, three different types of coins were minted: gold nabarros, billon cornados and billon half cornados.

„Compto segundo de Pedro Marzilla de Caparroso goarda dla moneda por los serenyssimos principes el rey don Johan et la Reyna dona Cathelina ntros senores la quoal dcha menta fue rendida antes de agora a Gracian de Ufaur et Martin dela Borda et Myguel despinal ensayador et Martin Cruzat general dela dcha moneda a los quatro q fueron comissarros por sus altezas pa receibir compto dela Recepta y espensa q el dcho Pedro abia admynystrado del xxxx et derecho del seynorage q a la senora ptenezca en el batimiento dla moneda q en la ciudat de pomp se abia batido despues del casamiento et matrimonio fecho entre sus altezas comenzando a XIII dias del mes de Marzo del ayno MCCCCLXXXVII ata el cargo dia de Otubre del ayno de LXXXVIII el quoal da compto magnera fuese Rendido port dcho Pedro a los sobre dichos comyssos en la ciudat de Pomp en el XXV dia de Noviembre del Ayno MCCCCLXXXVIII.

Et bien assi satisffecho e pagado ala senorra todo loque por el dcho Pedro hayga devydo delos derechos del seynorage pertenestienses ala dcha gra del batimiento dela dcha moneda q en los sobre dchos XX meses se fizo en la casa dela dcha moneda el dcho Pedro a mayor complimiento por objurar egoardar la hordenanza real escrita y pratica del dcho Regno torna a Render la dcha menta ante bosotros senores las gentes oydores delos comptos enla Cambra de los Comptos Reales el quoal dcho batimiento se fizo por mandameinto del Senor Gobernador el ilustre Sr de Labrit por sus altezas gobernador en este Regno dado apertura de los tres estados del Regno el thenor del quoal es en la forma q sigue "

As mentioned, these accounts provide us with very detailed information. First of all, they reveal the names and salaries of all the officers who worked on these coinages. They are the same people who worked on the coins of Francis Febo, and their salaries remained stable over the course of these twelve years.

• Martin d'Aoyz The first minting document of Queen Blanca dated in 1428 already mentions a merchant named Martin d'Aoyz and as can be seen, the same family remained involved in minting coins even throughout the 16th century. Belenguer d'Aoyz, his son, took over his father's position during 1491, the first mention of him being in July 1491.
• Pedro Marzilla de Caparroso, He was the guard of coinage in the royal tower house and the general guard of the coinage struck in the entire kingdom of Navarre. His salary was twelve and a half pounds (livre) for each worked month and was paid from the revenues of the seigniorage.
• Miguel de Espinal, essayer. His monthly salary was seven and a half pounds and was paid from the revenues of the seigniorage. From July 1493, „Miguel d'Espinal el Jove, minor of age,"son of the previous, is quoted in the document.
• Martin Cruzat General of the coinage. His monthly salary was seven and a half pounds and was paid from the revenues of the seigniorage. His duties seem to have been related to controlling and supervising other senior officials.
• Pierres Pelayn a carver of piles (bottom die) and hammer (upper) dies. His monthly salary was five pounds and was paid from the revenues of the seigniorage.
• Peton de Sant Johan or Peton of San Juan, producer of steel piles and dies. He was paid 5 shillings (sous/sueldos) per pile and 2 and a half shillings per hammer die from the seigniorage revenues.

We have no document reflecting the agreement signed between Martin d'Aoyz and the kings, or rather between Alain of Albret, that is, the father of King John and the viceroy of Navarre; but the accounts of Pedro Marzilla provide us the details of the coinage law signed by Alain on the 1st of February 1487:

Alayn senor de Labrit conde de drevs e de Gaure bizconde de Tartas Captal de dux gobernador et Lugartenent gnral por los serenyssimos et ntros muy caros snores don Johan por la gra de dios Rey de nabarra duch de Nemours, de Gandia et Montblanc y de Peynafiel conde de foix senor de Bearn, conde de Begorra y de Ribagorza de Pentibre et de Peyregord, bizconde de Limoges, Senor de abernas et dla Ciudat de Balaguer, et dona Cathelina por la mesma gra Reyna Propetaria del dcho Regno Duquessa delos dchos ducados condesa y senora de los dchos condados et seynorios por los magnifficos et bien amados mtros Martin de Aoyz maestro mayor dla moneda goardas ensayadores y otros officiales de la dcha moneda, salut fazemos saber que…

Courtesy of the General Archive of Navarre, Subentry of AGN, Box 164, Document 22

por parte de los tres estados deste dcho Regno q juntados et congregados se fallan en cortes generals por mandado et llamamyento ntro en la ciudat de Pompl. nos ha seydo referido e dado de entender el grandisimo dayno q este dcho Regno y los bezinos e habitantes de aquel recibe por falta q no se falla moneda menuda nynguna emplazando nos xxx ntra fuesse mandar bater dla dcha moneda menuda como son cornados y medios cornados y alguna quantidat de oro por q la gente del dcho Regno fuesse Probeyda dela dcha moneda menuda pa en sus comercios et cosas necesssarias.

Nos ente oida sudicha peticion e avyda consulta et deliberacion conlas gentes del consejo e avida relacion de las cosas sobre dchas de personas q en la sobr dcha moneda sabe y senprende porquanto fallamos q es cosa mucho necesaria q la dcha menuda moneda y algun oro seaya de bater la quoal redunda en grande utilidad e provecho del dcho Regno queriendo sobr ello poner segunt cumple vos encargarvos y exemplicante ntra daros ayes defazer bater dela dcha moneda menuda de cornados y medios cornados. Los cornados a onze granos de ley con bun grano de Remedio y al mesmo respecto los medios cornados y el oro pratgna quantidat bos sestiere se deba bater a la ley de beyntedos quirate y medio por q el dcho Regno y los bezinos y habitantes de aqul puedan ser proveidos dela dcha moneda menuda y oro corryendo todo en ello con aqella diligente lealtat et discrecion q de bos nos bien confiamos y lo teneys razon debos explissante jurado la quoal dcha moneda quiremos batays durant el tpo de ntra boluntat. Dada en la ciudat de Pomp. So el sello dela chancellerya primero dia del mes de febrero layno a MCCCCLXXXVII. Alayn por su mandado del senor governador et lugartenyent senor …. j de Munarriz

Courtesy of the General Archive of Navarre, Subentry of AGN, Box 164, Document 22

Et Empues el quoal dcho mandamyento el dcho Martin de Aoyz mtro de la dcha moneda faziendo fue alientado et leyes comienzo a dar a los hobreros dela dcha moneda en emplatura pa cornados et medios cornados y el oro en Rieles pa fazer nabarros de oro e fue mandado poner en la dcha moneda de oro con la forma de las caras del snor Rey et dla Seynora Reyna en la ona parte et en la otra parte las armas Reales de Navarra consu Corona et assi Rendiendo la hobra fecha por los dichos hobreros despues comenzaron atyriar los monederos et Rendiendo por ellos se fizieron las delibranzas por el dcho mtro faziendo primero los ensayos acopela por Miguel despinal mayor dedad ensayador encada delibranza et de alli adelante comenzaron aderramar en el Regno la dcha moneda y el derecho del seynoriaje dela quoal moneda fue amynistrado por el dcho goarda. La Recepta q en el ha probenydo de los dchos por el dcho mtro de la moneda comenzando como dicho es a XIII de Marzo del ayno LXXXVII ata la fin de Otubre del ayno MCCCCLXXXVIII et es segunt la forma q se sigue.

A summary table of the properties of the coins prescribed in the previous unique passages would be as follows:

Name	Value	Nominal Law (Fineness)	Number of Coins / Rough Mark	Nominal Weight (gr)	Legal Fineness Remedy/Tolerance	Legal Weight Remedy/Tolerance
Golden Nabarros 1487-1493	53 Gross	22.5 carats – 937.5 mils	72	3.40g	No remedy	No remedy
Cornados 1487-1493	2 Black Dineros (Negrete)	11 Grains – 38 Mils	256	0.95g	A grain	3-4 Pieces in a rough ounce (24-32 Pieces in a mark)
Negretes – Half-Cornados 1487-1493	A Dinero	6 Grains – 20.8 mils	352	0.69g	A grain	4 Pieces in a rough ounce (32 Pieces in a mark)

Summary of the structure of the monetary system as outlined in the decree of Viceroy Alain of Albret

And if we compare the above with the specimens from the previous reign, we would have the following summary:

Name	Value	Nominal Law (Fineness)	Number of Coins / Rough Mark	Nominal Weight (gr)	Legal Fineness Remedy/Tolerance	Legal Weight Remedy/Tolerance
Gold Ducats 1482-1486	46 / 47 / 48 Gross	23 carats – 958 mils	72	3.40g	No remedy	No remedy
Golden Navarros – New Ducats 1487-1493	53 Gross	22.5 carats – 937.5 mils	72	3.40g	No remedy	No remedy
Gross 1481-1484	16 Cornado – 32 dinars	4 deniers 3 grains – 343 mils	88	2,78	3 Grains	A Piece in a Mark
Half Gros 1481-1484	8 Cornados – 16 dollars	4 deniers 3 grains – 343 mils	176	1,39	3 Grains	Two Pieces in a Mark
Cornado 1482-1485	2 Black Dineros	15 Grains – 50 Mils	256	0,95	A grain	2 Pieces in a Rough Ounce (16 Pieces in a Mark)
Cornado 1487-1493	2 Black Dineros	11 Grains – 38 Mils	256	0,95	A grain	3-4 Pieces in a rough ounce (24-32 Pieces in a mark)
Black Dineros – Half Cornados 1483-1485	A Dinero	8 Grains – 27 Mils	352	0,69	A grain	4 Pieces in a Rough Ounce (32 Pieces in a Mark)
Black Money – Half Cornados - Negretes1487-1493	A Dinero	6 Grains – 20.8 mils	352	0,69	A grain	4 Pieces in a rough ounce (32 Pieces in a mark)

Summary of the structure of the coinage system of the reign of Francis Phoebus and first minting period his successors

Gold coins had the same weight as those minted in the name of Francis Phoebus, but had a gold fineness of half a carat less than that of the old ducats. While the former were called old ducats, the latter were called new ducats or, as the previous passage shows, golden nabarros . The monetary value of these gold coins was set at 53 gros of 12 cornados throughout this first coinage period, that is, 5 pounds and 6 shillings. The old ducats of Francis Febo were given a value of 56 gros, that is, 5 pounds and 12 shillings.

In the case of gold coins, the exchange payment arrangements were simple, there was no tolerance here. For every twenty-two and a half carat gold mark brought by the merchants, 72 coins had to be minted. The merchants would receive 70 of the newly minted gold coins and the remaining two, one would be for the royal house as seigniorage tax payment and the other would be for the mintmaster, in return for the minting costs.

Name	Number of Coins / Rough Mark	Seigniorage	Processing Costs	Merchants' Payment
Golden Nabarros – Struck according to the weight of old Ducats	72	1	1	70

Distribution of gold coinage output

If we look at the accounts of minted gold coins, we can make the following struck quantity summary:

	1487	1488	1489	1490	1491	1492	1493	Total
Number of Nabarros	10964.25	16105.35	16155.75	13020.94	8892.51	11955.64	21369.15	98463.58
Rough Marks	152.28	223.64	224.18	180.70	123.42	165.86	296.66	1366.74
Pure Gold Marks	142.76	209.66	209.83	169.32	115.32	154.86	277.51	1279.26
Seigniorage Tax Payment	807L 1S 10D	1185L 05S 01D	1188L 03S 07D	957L 14S 09D 0.5OBL	654L 05S 10D	879L 02S 00D	1572L 05S 07D	7243L 18S 08D 0.50OBL
Value (gross)	53	53	53	53	53	53	53

Gold coin mintage and tax revenue

As we can see, a total of 98.463 gold coins were minted during these seven years. The largest number was minted in 1493 (around 21.370 coins). In total 313.1 kg pure gold was used in the minting of the Nabarros, considerably more than the 4,800 coins and the 13 kg of pure gold in the previous reign. The seigniorage tax revenues generated by these gold coins were comparatively very high, amounting to more than 7.243 livres.

An example of an entry shown in the coinage accounts for these gold nabarros is as follows:

Courtesy of the General Archive of Navarre, Subentry of AGN, Box 164, Document 22

Recepta del seynoriage del oro q se ha batido en la casa dla moneda comenzando laprima delibranza a XXIIII dias de Marzo del Ayno MCCCCLXXXVII

Primo por una delibranza q a XXIIII de Marzo del ayno MCCCCLXXXII fizo el dcho Martin d’aoiz mtro de la dcha moneda de XX marquos V onzas de oro q fueron batidos en la casa dla dcha moneda los quales bistos en rieles antes de hobrar por miguel despynal, mayor de edad, ensayador, y despues en ese dia en hobra fecha indiquo a la ley de XXII quarats et medio et fueron de talla en el peso a LXXII piezas de oro en el marquo de obra, pa el seynoriage de la qual delibro el dcho mtro al goarda a una pieza de oro por marquo de hobra por el derecho dela seynoria q son XX piezas de oro et medio et medio quartillo q a V libras VI sueldos por pieza montan———————————–🡪 CVIIII pounds VI shillings III Pennys (dineros)

In the case of Francis Phoebus, only three gold coins have survived to our days; in the case of these Nabarros, and considering the higher number of minted coins, we are also aware of a higher amount of surviving coins than those of Francis.

These gold nabarros can be classified into two groups, according to the work of the expert Miguel Ibañez Artica. The first group consists of the ones that present larger crown and faces of the royal couple on the obverse; the second group consists of the ones with smaller crown and faces. Within each group, we can find different specimens with different texts on the obverse or reverse.

I have so far found six specimens belonging to the first group and they are presented below. In total, between the two groups, ten specimens will be presented. And here they are:

Gold Nabarro coin minted in the name of the kings Catherine of Navarre (1483-1517) and John (1484-1516) – 3.44 gr – 22.5 carat gold content (937.5 mils) – Caballero de las Yndias collection – 18.900 EUR Auction Result – First Group

Obverse: REGES: IOHS: KA(TH)EA:NAVARRE

Reverse: SIT:NOME:DOMINE:BENEDI

AUREO & CALICÓ, AUCTION 218-3, LOT 1665 22.10.2009

Gold Nabarro coin minted in the name of the kings Catherine of Navarre (1483-1517) and John (1484-1516) – 3.40 gr – 23mm diameter – 22.5 carat gold content (937.5 mils) – Treasure of Plaza Yesqueros – On display at the Santa Clara Museum in Murcia – First Group

Obverse: REGES: IOHS: KATHEA:NAVARRE

Reverse: SIT:NOMEN:DOMINI:BENEN

Courtesy of the Government of Murcia and the Santa Clara Museum 09.08.2024

Gold Nabarro coin minted in the name of Kings Catherine of Navarre (1483-1517) and John (1484-1516) – 3.34 gr, 22.3mm diameter – 22.5 carat gold content (937.5 mils) – EUR 8.750 Auction Result – First Group

Obverse: REGES: IOHS: KA(TH)EA:NAVARRE

Reverse: SIT:NOMEN:DOMINI:BENE

JESÚS VICO, AUCTION 169, LOT 230 26.06.2024

Gold Nabarro coin minted in the name of Kings Catherine of Navarre (1483-1517) and John (1484-1516) – 3.40gr, 22.6mm diameter (5h) – 22.5 carat gold content (937.5 mils) – National Archaeological Museum of Madrid (MAN 106-536) – First Group

Obverse: REGES: IOHS: KATHEA:NAVARRE

Reverse: SIT:NOMEN:DOMINI:BEN

Courtesy of the National Archaeological Museum of Madrid

All four coins seen so far had the same die or probably pile on the obverse during the coinage process, but not on the reverse side. This is significant.

However, this subsequent issue pertaining to the first group, does not share the same obverse pile or die.

Gold Nabarro coin minted in the name of Kings Catherine of Navarre (1483-1517) and John (1484-1516) – 3.41gr – 22.5 carat gold content (937.5 mils) – CHF 16,000 Auction Result – First Group

Obverse: IHS: KATHEA:NAVARRE:REG S

Reverse: SIT:NOMEN:DOMINI:BE

NUMISMATICA GENEVENSIS, AUCTION 10, LOT 236 03.12.2018

The sixth and final specimen of the first group is from the Javier Bergua collection. Its photograph appears in the book “Historia de la Moneda de Navarra” (1991, Herper Argitaletxea) and is shown here.

Gold nabarro coin minted in the name of Kings Catherine of Navarre (1483-1517) and John (1484-1516) – Weight and diameter not stated – First Group

Found: ……………

Ifrenzu: …………

Javier Bergua Collection – Photo by Miguel Ibanez Artica

The edges of this specimen are completely worn and cut. It is impossible to read the texts on the obverse or reverse.

So far, I have found four more specimens pertaining to the second group. In this case, there is no trace of identical pile or dies. There are probably more specimens than these, and we will include them in this entry as they appear.

Gold Nabarro coin minted in the name of Kings Catherine of Navarre (1483-1517) and John (1484-1516) – 3.38 gr – 22.5 carat gold content (937.5 mils) – 15,000 EUR Auction Result – Second Group

Obverse: IOHANES: KATHERINA:R:NAVARRE

Reverse: SIT:NOMEN:DOMINI:BENE.D

AUREO & CALICÓ, AUCTION 275, LOT 99 10.03.2016

Gold Nabarro coin minted in the name of kings Catherine of Navarre (1483-1517) and John (1484-1516) – 3.33 gr – 22.5 carat gold content (937.5 mils) – Former Huntington collection specimen; repaired hole – 3600 EUR Auction Result, Acquired by the Museum of Navarre – Second Group

Obverse: I(HO)NES : KATERINA : REGS : NAVARR

Reverse: SIT:NOMEN BENEDIE · CTVM

TAULER & FAU AUCTIONS, AUCTION 144, LOT 1314 24.06.2024

Gold Navarro coin minted in the name of Kings Catherine of Navarre (1483-1517) and John (1484-1516) – 3.38 gr – 22.5 carat gold content (937.5 mils) – Courtesy of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France – Second Group

Obverse: IOHANES: KATHERINA:R:NAVARRE

Reverse: SIT:NOMEN:DOMINI:BENED

National Library of France (BNF)

Gold Navarro coin minted in the name of Kings Catherine of Navarre (1483-1517) and John (1484-1516) – 22.5 carat gold content (937.5 mils) – Courtesy of the Instituto de Valencia de Don Juan – Second Group

Obverse: IOHANES: KATHERINA:R:NAVARE

Reverse: SIT:NOMEN:DOMINI:BE

Courtesy of Instituto de Valencia de Don Juan

Before I finish, I would like to talk about the name of these gold coins or ducats.

Starting from the works of the late 20th century, these gold coins that feature royal faces have been given the names ducat, nabarro and real. A few days ago Press releases from the Government of Navarre also named them in the same way. But in all the documents that I have analyzed, these coins only bear the name of ducats or navarros, they do not bear the name of gold reales. The name of gold reales is given to the new 22-carat coins that will be minted from 1495 onwards, which do not feature the faces of the royal couple, and bear the same appearance as the gold reales or shields of the previous king Juan II. It is time to name each coin by its original name!!

These first works are a continuation of those of Francis and must be linked to the legitimization effort of the new monarchy. After the coronation, in 1494 and the following years, the monarchy was firmly established in Navarre, and it spread new imagery on its coins, an imagery that showed continuity with the previous monarchy (the Evreux dynasty, as John II himself had done).

If we look at the silver coins, this first coinage period does not show any traces of the gros or half gros minted during the previous reign. Instead of the medium-value gros minted in Navarre, contemporary documents reflect a flood of coins called the Béarn blanc and especially the Tarja from Brittany.

Brittany Tarja coin minted in the name of Anne, Duchess of Brittany (1488-1491)

Found: AnnA: BRITOnVm: DVCISSA:R

Ifrentzua: SIT: nOmEn: ID: BEnEDICTVm

CGB.FR, E-MONNAIES DÉCEMBRE 2014, LOT 338531 03.12.2014

Gabriel, son of Lord of Avesnes and Alain of Labrit, representative of the Viceroy of Navarre, states this in the ordinance on the value and circulation of coins published on April 10, 1492, at the recommendation of the courts of Estella:

Courtesy of the Royal Archives of Navarre AGN, Box 164. First page of document 28.

"Gabriel place To all those who are present here and in the audience, let us know that for the three states of this Kingdom that are gathered in the general courts in this city of Estella, we have been referred to them saying that they have been reconfirmed both in private and in negotiations in both of the public affairs. by the assayers and masters of the coin of the City of Pamplona as by those who by evident experience there and below every day as in all this right Reyno and the current currency of various ways of lesser value and demmy (too much) baja ley for which cause all the money of gold is counted in much more price than its value in great deviation and dayno comun de todo este dcho Reyno y lo q peor es now de nuebo I am bringing new tarjas fechas in Bretagna at the price of seze cornados las quales experienced by the right masters there failed that with the quarte parte they are not as good as the sticks of Bearne.(…) and costense las monedas en su devydo valor porto q se donaron e rizibidas deste su dcho Reyno q in este medio las mon de oro q en el corran hayan de valer a los seignoriales precios. Et asaber florin doro quarent groses, castellanos doro setentados groses, ducado viejo cinquinta sey groses, ducado nuebo cinquonta tres groses, Real y escudo biejo seisenta grosses, escudo de la baqueta o del sol cinquenta dos groses, escudos ???? groses, florin del rhin thirty-six groses. prio assin que porellas no se faga more damage y el que lo grajo fiziere dar ny tomar dchas monedas de oro in mas valor delo delo que sobre dcho es alguna del las dchas tarjas tamase in nin principio seyendose probato encorra por cada begada em pena of XXV pounds of which the penalty is XX pounds for the fiscal procurator and V pounds for the accuser.(...) Dated in the city of P the seal of the chancellery on April 10, LXXXXII".

This order prohibited the use of these Tarja coins from Brittany; but it also shows us the exchange value of the gold coins of that time from the local and neighboring kingdoms. Among these foreign coins, the Castilian coins of Castile are mentioned, the Castilian coins of Ferdinand and Isabella that were taken as a model for the local gold coins:

Castilian gold Castellano coin minted in the name of Ferdinand and Isabella, kings of Castile and Aragon – 4.56gr – Seville Mint

Index: + QVOS : DEVS : CONIVNGIT : hOMO : NON : SE·

Obverse: + FERNANDVS : ET : ELISABENT : REX : ET :

TAULER & FAU AUCTIONS, AUCTION 145, LOT 188 25.06.2024

The weight and fineness of these Castilian coins were greater than those of the local Navarrese. As a result, the exchange value of these coins was set at 72 twelve-cornado gros, while the local Navarrese had a value of 53 gros (the old Ducats of Francis Febo and the Shields of Bearn also showed an exchange value of 56 gros and 52 gros respectively).

Likewise, if we look at these Castilians, we can see that their iconography was the same as that of the local Navarrese, with the image of the king and queen, who wanted to be highlighted and consolidated, on the front and the coat of arms of the royal house that needed to be consolidated once again (Navarre and Evreux in our case).

But what was the connection between Brittany and the kingdom of Navarre, and what could have caused these Breton cards to appear in Navarre? Alain of Labrit, the royal representative and governor of Navarre, was embroiled in the “mad war” of Brittany between 1485 and 1488, and later until 1491, as the Duke-candidate for the aforementioned heiress, Duchess Anne. Anne eventually married the King of France, but during these years the Navarrese, Gascons and Bearnots brought many cards to their villages, replacing their local coins and arousing the concern of the courts.

Alain himself was probably involved in the arrival of the large number of tarjas, and he would have initially established an exchange value that was beneficial to him. The value of these tarjas in Brittany was the same as that of the gros of Phoebus and the blanka or white of Bearn, that is, sixteen cornados or twenty-two black money (negretes). They had such an influence that the medium-sized coins of Navarre will be called tarjas from this time on (although they also received the name sezen, due to their value of sixteen cornados).

Let us now examine the circumstances of these carved cornado specimens.

One of the entries that the Cornado lanquets make in the seigniorage accounts is the one shown here, the first Cornado lanquet corresponding to the year 1487. It has a couple of interesting details:

Courtesy of the General Archive of Navarre, Subentry of AGN, Box 164, Document 22

Receta del seynoriage delos cornados año LXXXVII

On the first of the IIII of April of the year MCCCCLXXXVII for a resolution that the right Martin d'Aoyz master of the coin fixed of CCXXII marquos and I Onzas de cornados that closed the assay of the cup by Myguel despinal assayor contained to the law of X fine silver grains and de talla fueron al peso a VIII quadernas y I cornado en la onza que segun la law LXXXXII dineros XIII granos 1/4 de fin que son VII sueldos VIII dineros XIII granos argent fin et pa el dcho del senynoriaje delibro el dcho maestro a XXX sueldos por sueldo de ley q montan -> XI Pound XI Salary IIII Diru

That is, on April 4, 1487, the mintmaster Martin de Aoiz delivered the result of 222 marks and one ounce of cornado coins, which were minted by the assayer Miguel de Espinal. through the cup He tried, establishing the ten-grain silver law. The number of coins produced was 8 kopecks and one piece per ounce of mintage, that is, ((8*4) + 1 ) = 33 grains in an ounce and 33*8 = 264 grains in each mark of mintage; that is, in this account entry, 222,125*264 = 58,641 cornados were minted in total. According to the coinage law, although the cornados had a nominal silver content of eleven grains, as reflected in the accounts, all mintages benefited from the one-grain remedy and Martin paid his seigniorage taxes based on this ten-grain silver content.

The seigniorage tax was 30 seulements per mark of fine silver used, the same as in the previous reign.

If we multiply the number of worked marks by ten grains, we would get 2221.25 grains, which is, if we convert it to money and grains, the 92 money and 13.25 grains mentioned in the accounts. If we turn this figure around, the worked cornados are said to have used 7 sueldos, 8 money and 13 grains of silver. This is quite interesting, because these 222.125 worked marks, with a silver content of 10 grains, should give us (222.125*1/12*10/24) = 7.7126 pure silver marks used. This amount of silver use is a weight quantity and should be expressed in marks, ounces, and the like, but instead it is expressed in sueldos, dimes, and grains, where a sueldo was a weight mark (sueldo de ley), divided into 12 dimes, and a dime into 24 grains. If these 7.7126 marks were converted to this base, it would give us 7 sueldos, 8 dimes, and 13.5 grains, exactly as shown in the accounts (well, actually, with an error of half a grain). Since the amount of silver used was known, the corresponding seigniorage tax could be easily calculated. If each mark of sueldo or pure silver was subject to a tax of 30 sueldos, a quick calculation would show that the tax flow was 11 pounds, 11 sueldos, and 4 dimes, the same number shown in the accounts.

Let's now see what cash flow a pure silver mark produced, if we assume a silver content of ten grains and a nominal flow of 256 pieces per mark:

Name	Crafting Frames created from a Silver Frame (10 grains)	Number of Coins minted from a Silver Mark (256 pieces)	Seigniorage	Processing Costs	Merchants' Payment	Total	Cash flow generated from a Silver Mark	Unexplained cash flow discrepancy
Cornados	28.8	7373	30 Salary	????? -50 Salary?	?????-39 Pounds?	42 pounds?	61L 8S 9D	19L 8S 9D?

The monetary flow that a pure silver mark could provide in cornados

We do not have precise data on the price of pure silver in this first coinage of Catherine and John. Similarly, the costs of minting are unknown. If the seigniorial price of silver of 30 shillings in the reign of Francis Febo and the salaries of the high officials of the mint remained at their current level, we can conclude that the costs of minting remained at the 50 shillings of the previous reign. Although the remuneration received by merchants for a pure silver mark is unknown, it was probably not at the 28 livres of the previous reign. When the structure of the mintage of the second coinage was being prepared, around 1492, it is mentioned that it was impossible to buy silver for less than 39 livres (26 count florins). The regulations of the second coinage, on the other hand, set the payment for pure silver at 37 livres and 10 shillings (25 count florins).

If we take this range of figures into account, it would give us an unjustified financial contribution of around 19 and a half pounds. These Cornados provided even greater profits than those of the previous reign (19 and a half pounds vs. 9 pounds).

But the calculations that the guarda or head of the mint, in the preparatory work for the minting of the second series of coins, show are as follows (they are preserved in Document 28, Box 164 of the Royal Archives of Navarre and we can say that they were written in the year 1492).

Courtesy of the Royal Archives of Navarre AGN, Box 164, sixteenth page of Document 28 (Verso 8)

Abis de los cornados according to the value of the silver which is XXXVIII libras de plata marked from Pamplona or Paris

Primo en bun marquo de ley silver of XI moneys and nine grains and CCLXXIII grains of fine silver of which there will be in each marquo of the work cornados of XI grains of law that mounts the grains on said work for ligar XXIIII marks and III quartos

Item de los sobre dchos XXIIII marquos e III quartos en onzas se sacan de mermas ya la foundcion del maestro IIII ounce assibien palas mermas de los obreros en diez marquos buna ounce o pa la las mermas del emblarquir con las mermas de los chos obreros e IIII quartos onzas fundifibas

Las mermas de los dchos obreros ———————————————————————— > X Ounces

That's how the right teacher should make the sobre dacha work of cornados in net XXIII marks and IIII Ounces and fara per onza VIIII quadernas al peso que los chos XXIII marks and half monta ————-> LVI Pounds VIII Salaries

The charges of the sobre dcha work of cornados are the ones that follow and cannot be excused

primo por el marquo de plata marcada de Pomp o Paris —————————————–> XXXVIII libras

Item XVI libras de cuyre pa la league dela dacha plata que a II Sezenes montan —————-> IIII Libras VI sueldos

Item a la señoria por su señoriage por marquo de plata XV Sueldos ————————> XV sueldos

Item to the workers that he must cut to pieces for his brazaje a dos groses por quo que los XXXIII marquos y medio montan———————> IIII Libras XIIII sueldos

Item a los monederos por monedar los chos cornados a bun gros por quo de hobra q monta ——–> II libras VII sueldos

Pal Maestro por sus trabajos como son aliar smelter e por el carbon sielos e carbon de los obreros tal ea bun pal blanqueo por todos los trabajos en lod dchos XXIII marquos e medio de work alira ———-> V libras VI sueldos

Suma all the work date ————————————————————————————> LVI pounds VIII wages

Which on the said work of cornados will be the law of eleven grains per mark of work with good grain of Remedio in the right law and will be of the size of thirty-six cornados per ounce and this would be the feeble sota this weight will be the said feeble for the lady assi bien en los remedies de la ley si los hubiere

Name	Crafting Frames created from a Silver Frame (11 grains)	Number of Coins minted from a Silver Mark (288 pieces)	Seigniorage	Processing Costs	Merchants' Payment	Total	Cash flow generated from a Silver Mark	Unexplained cash flow discrepancy
Cornados	23.5	6768	15 Salary	16L 13S	39 Pounds	56L 8S	56L 8S	—

A pure silver mark provided the monetary flow and processing costs in official accounts (April 7, 1492, AGN, Box 164, Document 28)

The above passage is quite interesting. The calculations are made with a silver content of eleven grains, but all cornados were minted around a silver content of ten grains. The mintage indicates that 288 pieces (9 blocks) were produced from a frame, but the coinage accounts usually range between 264 and 280 pieces (only once does a mintage entry appear in the accounts stating that 288 pieces were minted per frame).

The reductions due to silver smelting and alloying are reported, as are the losses in smelting and bleaching, which are quite large in my opinion.

It also provides information on various prices and costs. Each pound of copper (more than a third of a kilo, since the Navarrese pound weighed about 372 grams) had a price of two seigneurs or cards (32 dirhams or 2 seigneurs and 8 dirhams each). It provides information on the seigniorial tax, but in this case it is set at 15 seigneurs, where the mint accounts always show it at 30 seigneurs. The costs and salaries of the workers and the mintmaster are also shown, which is quite interesting, since the worker who struck coins with a hammer received half the salary of the one who cut the coins.

Let's see next the total number of cornado grains cultivated in these seven years:

	1487	1488	1489	1490	1491	1492	1493	Overall
Number of Cornados	291563.00	292693.00	404430.00	356287.00	643356.50	776258.00	684592.00	3449179.50
Rough Marks	1080.75	1068.88	1453.13	1288.25	2335.69	2844.63	2464.00	12535.31
Silver Frames	37.55	37.11	50.59	45.32	84.13	104.62	85.56	444.87
Seigniorage Tax Payment	56L 5S 16D	55L 12S 16D	75L 13S 07D	67L 02S 09D	121L 12S 11D	148L 03S 00D	128L 06S 08D	652L 18S 07D

Number of Cornado coins minted and tax revenue

As can be seen, the number of carved horns was large in this case, 3.450.000 of about a grain within seven years. In each year of cultivation, a greater number of cornado grains were cultivated than in the entire previous reign. In the cultivation of these cornados 109 About 100,000 kilograms of pure silver were used. The seigniorage tax generated was eleven times lower than that of gold bullion.

In the case of the Kornados, there are very many examples that have survived to our days. Kornados were also minted in the second coinage of the reign and it is not easy to classify the examples from different periods.

But, with a little courage, we can put forward the following hypothesis: The cornados from the first coinage period do not have rings around the corners of the IK or between the arms of the cross on the obverse.

Billon cornado minted in the name of Kings Catherine of Navarre (1483-1517) and John (1484-1516) – 0.81 gr – nominal silver content of 38 thousandths, actual content of 34.72 thousandths – 1495. Second mintage issue, with rings on both the obverse and reverse.

Found: IOHANES.ET.KA

Ifrenzwu: + SIT.NOMEN.DOMINI

Tauler & Fau Auctions, Auction 86, Lot 1020 08.06.2021

We can classify the cornado coins belonging to this first coinage into two large groups:

1. Coins with pictorial texts that extend across the entire coin, even above the crown on the obverse.

Billon cornado minted in the name of Kings Catherine of Navarre (1483-1517) and John (1484-1516) – 0.83 gr – nominal silver content of 38 thousandths, actual content of 34.72 thousandths – First Cornado set

Found: IOHANES *KATHERINA*R

Ifrentzwu: +SIT NOMEN DOMINI BE

TAULER & FAU AUCTIONS, AUCTION 2, LOT 369 27.06.2017

2. Coins in which the crown above the IK rays interrupts the obverse iridotext. According to the obverse iridotext, the coins in this second group can be classified into two further subgroups. The first subgroup consists of coins that show numerous variations of the name and title of the king and queen on the obverse:

Billon cornado minted in the name of Kings Catherine of Navarre (1483-1517) and John (1484-1516) – 0.84 gr – Nominal silver content of 38 thousandths, actual content of 34.72 thousandths – Second set, first subset

Obverse: IOHANES · KATER

Ifrenzua: + : SIT :· NAME : DOMINI ⋮ B :

Tauler & Fau Auctions, Auction 144, Lot 1337 24.06.2024

The specimens of the second subset again present REGIS NAVARRE in the adjacent pictorial text.

Billon cornado minted in the name of Kings Catherine of Navarre (1483-1517) and John (1484-1516) – 0.83 gr – Nominal silver content of 38 thousandths, actual content of 34.72 thousandths – Second set, second subset

Obverse: REGIS:NAVARRE

Ifrentzua: + SIT:NOMEN:DOMIN:BE

TAULER & FAU AUCTIONS, AUCTION 144, LOT 1345 24.06.2024

Given the large number of carved cornados, many variants of different pictorial texts can be found among the cornados of this early period. Anyone who wants to learn about them should consult the catalogue of the expert Ricardo Ros. However, from this page, we will only mention two variants:

1. Examples of variations of the image text SIT NOMEN DOMINI BENE (in some cases the same text is on the reverse and in others the name and title of the king and queen)
2. There are a few rare specimens that show the mirrored processing of the IK rays, where the KI rays appear but in a mirrored manner. Here is one of these specimens:

Cornado coin with inverted IK edges – Courtesy of Jordi Vall-llosera Tarres – Weight 0.635 gr, 14-16mm Diameter – Acta Numismatica Num 33, 2003

Finally, let's look at the so-called half-cornados or black money (negrete). Here is the first entry in which these half-cornados appear in these seigniorage accounts, corresponding to April 12 and October 27, 1487:

Courtesy of the General Archive of Navarre, Subentry of AGN, Box 164, Document 22

Recepta del Seynoriage delos medios cornados

First for a resolution on the XII of April of the year MCCCCLXXXVII and another resolution on the XXVII of October of the right month made the meter for the coin of forty-eight marks III ounces of corned media that closed the essay by Miguel despinal they contained to the law of 5 grains of silver fin et de talla fuero a XI quadernas y media en la onza q monta la dacha ley X dineros II granos argent fin et delibero el dcho mtro por el derecho de la seynoria to XXX Saledos per Saledo de ley q los X dineros II granos montan. -> I Libra V Salaries II dineros.

During the first year, 1487, on April 12 and October 27, the mintmaster Martin de Aoiz delivered a production of 48 marks of silver and three ounces of negrete. Here too, these coins were examined by the assayer Miguel de Espinal. The law of these coins is said to have been 5 grains of silver, taking into account the remedy of one grain allowed by law. The average weight of half-cornado coins is expressed in the number of books made from one ounce of silver, eleven books and a half, that is, 46 coins in one ounce, 368 coins in each mark of silver, an average weight of 244.753/368 = 0.66 grams per coin.

The amount of silver used in this production is then reported. Based on the silver content of five grains, the 48.375 marks produced used 0.84 pure silver marks =((5 x 48.375/24)/12). Since the production of a pure silver mark had a seigniorage tax of 30 shillings, the tax payable was five shillings and 2 dirhams per pound. The calculations are also accurate here.

Once again, let's see what kind of money a pure silver frame made of half-cornered gold could generate:

Name	Crafting Frames created from a Silver Frame (5 grains)	Number of Coins minted from a Silver Mark (352 pieces)	Seigniorage	Processing Costs	Merchants' Payment	Total	Cash flow generated from a Silver Mark	Unexplained cash flow discrepancy
Cornado Half	57.6	20.275	30 Salary	????- 50 Salary?	39 pounds?	42 pounds?	84L 09S 07D	42L 09S 07D??

A pure silver mark could provide a monetary flow of half a cornado

We can once again highlight that the production of a pure silver frame could have had an unreasoned monetary contribution of around 42 and a half pounds in the case of half cornados (it was nineteen pounds in the case of whole cornados).

In the case of the negretes, the official accounts are not as clear as in the case of the whole cornados:

Courtesy of the Royal Archives of Navarre AGN, Box 164, sixteenth page of Document 28 (Verso 8)

Assi bien sepueden fazer negretes los que se fara a la ley de seys granos abra remedio a bun grano por quo en la dacha ley e sera de talla al peso a twelve quadernas per ounce which will be forty-eight negretes per ounce and si fablaje hubiese sera pa la senorya assi bien el Remedio de grueso Palynbres e en los dichos negretes.

In this case I have had to estimate and guess at a number of cash flows and costs, but in my opinion they could have had the following structure. Since the processing frames to be processed were close to double, it can be accepted that the processing costs were also close to double:

Name	Crafting Frames created from a Silver Frame (6 grains)	Number of Coins minted from a Silver Mark (384 pieces)	Seigniorage	Processing Costs	Merchants' Payment	Total	Cash flow generated from a Silver Mark	Unexplained cash flow discrepancy
Cornado Half	43.08??	16.544??	15 Salary	29L 03S 08D??	39 Pounds	68L 18S 08D	68L 18S 08D	—??

In official accounts, a pure silver mark could give a monetary flow and processing costs in half a cornado (April 7, 1492, AGN, Document 28, Box 164)

These half-cornados were produced over a period of seven years, starting in 1487 and continuing throughout the following years. Let's look at the total number of half-cornados produced in these seven years:

	1487	1488	1489	1490	1491	1492	1493	Overall
Half Cornado Quantity	17802	45540	17072	16826	60156	39008	74336	270740
Rough Marks	48.375	126.5	48.5	44.75	162.25	106	202	738.375
Silver Frames	0.840	2.196	0.926	0.777	2.914	1.997	3.507	13.157
Seigniorage Tax Payment	1L 5S 2D	3L 6S 8D	01L 05S 03D	01L 03S 04D	04L 04S 05D	02L 15S 02D	05L 05S 01D	19L 05S 01D

Number of half-cornado coins minted and tax revenue

In this case, the number of half-cornered corns worked is not large, 270.740 During these seven years of meager harvests, little for the kingdom. In the cultivation of these half-cornered Three About one and a quarter kilos of pure silver were used, well below that used in the making of the whole cornados, and the seigniorage tax revenue generated was much lower than these.

Here too, in the case of half-cornados, the specimens that have survived to our days are few and far between. We can classify half-cornados into two large groups, those without a ring near the crown (first mintage) and those with rings near the crown (second mintage). Here is an specimen belonging to the first group that has been exhibited at auctions; the size of the crown on these specimens is usually small and, when compared with the Phoebus specimens, they have a clear continuity:

Half-billion cornado minted in the name of Kings Catherine of Navarre (1483-1517) and John (1484-1516) – 0.39 gr – Nominal silver content of 20 thousandths, actual silver content of 17 thousandths – First mintage issue

Found: IOHANES · KATER

If: +SI … MEN · DOM

TAULER & FAU AUCTIONS, AUCTION 144, LOT 1349 24.06.2024

I believe that the first group of coins are from the first coinage. The second group of coins were minted after 1495 and are distinguished by the larger size of the crown and the rings around it. The second group of coins is more numerous.

Half-billion cornado minted in the name of Kings Catherine of Navarre (1483-1517) and John (1484-1516) – 0.76 gr – Nominal silver content of 20 thousandths, actual silver content of 17 thousandths – Issue from the second minting

Found: IOHAN KATER

Ifrentzua: + SIT.NAME

TAULER & FAU AUCTIONS, AUCTION 93, LOT 2015 05.10.2021

Before taking a look at the expenses, let's make a summary of the total number of coins minted in these seven years:

	1487	1488	1489	1490	1491	1492	1493	Overall
Number of Golden Nabarro	10964.25	16105.35	16155.75	13020.94	8892.51	11955.64	21369.15	98463.58
Number of Cornados	291563.00	292693.00	404430.00	356287.00	643356.50	776258.00	684592.00	3449179.50
Half Cornado Quantity	17802	45540	17072	16826	60156	39008	74336	270740

Summary of coins minted each year

These seigniorage and coinage accounts have another interesting aspect. In this case, instead of reporting the income collected in seigniorage taxes, they reported the cash outflows in the payment of expenses. A lot of money went to the salary payments of various officers (the guard himself, the assayer, the engraver and the general of the coins). Other outflows reflect the payments made to the iron and steel worker of the piles and dies. The mint itself also had its own repair work, especially the replacement of the roof and the purchase of the tools and instruments necessary for the minting of coins, which also had their written receipts.

But among these cash flow records, there are a couple that you should pay close attention to. Here is the first one:

Courtesy of the Royal Archives of Navarre AGN, Box 164, Document 23, sub-entry (page 35)

Item delibro al dcho mtre John delizondo mediquo of his highness for the purpose of payment of the hundred escudos of his gages that on the receipt of the dcho seynoriage has each year the sum of CLXVI (166) pounds which he gave on the III of April of the year LXXXI pa fin de paguo de los chos cento escudos del Reyno, a Mil CCCCLXXXXI por esso aqui ———————-> CLXVI (156) libra

Courtesy of the Royal Archives of Navarre AGN, Box 164, Document 23, sub-entry (page 36)

Item the V of August of the year on the right of MCCCCLXXXX I deliver to mtre John delizondo mediquo of his highness to share the payment of the assignment that his highness gave him on the right seynoriage of the sum of 100 escudos each year starting for the ayavra of September of the year LXXXVIII in siguiente for each year as more largamento preste por subscrito or previsto and signed by his highness and seal of the seal of arms signed by the hand of Bertrand de la Bonhe Served in Lorda on the eighth day of December of the year one thousand four hundred and ninety for which the day assigned by the principle of pay the resolution on the right v of August to the right mtre John la the sum of CXX pounds …………………..> CXX (120) pounds

There was a doctor at court named Jon or Johan of Elizondo. This doctor took care of Catherine's brother, King Francisco Phoebus, during his tuberculosis illness; this is what contemporary documents show. According to the coinage accounts, this doctor initially received a salary of 300 gold shields, until from September 1488 it was reduced to an annual salary of 100 gold shields. By this time, he was already the doctor of the royal couple.

This doctor's payments were made from the income of the coinage, as the accounts show. In return for each gold shield (the shield was already the currency of the count in those days) he was initially given 5 livres, but towards the end of 1492, the doctor demanded a payment of 53 grosz of new ducats (5 livres and 6 seulements) for each gold shield; and he obtained it.

Courtesy of the Royal Archives of Navarre AGN, Box 164, Document 23, sub-entry (page 58)

"Item a IIII de June del ano sobre dicho delibera a mtre Johann delizondo mediquo de los Rey y Reyna ntros sres pa en present paguo dla assignment dla pension q sobr el docho senoriaje tiene al qual delibro en el sobre dcho IIII de Junyo fifty nabarros of gold qa V pounds VI sueldos Sum ————————————————–> 265 pounds"

Courtesy of the Royal Archives of Navarre AGN, Box 164, Document 23, sub-entry (page 59)

"Item XIII of September of the year on the right of LXXXXIII deliberate to master John delizondo mediquo of his highness in order to pay the one hundred escudos of gold of his wages that for a year he has on the right of the right of seigniory for the currency for which the deliberation in el sobr dcho XIII dia de Sept otros fifty duquados or nabarros of all qa V libras VI sueldos piece montan ————————————————————> 265 (CCLXV) pounds”

But the only payments made to this doctor are not the ones shown so far. The salary of 530 livres a year was a very generous salary. Pedro Marzilla, the guard, earned a quarter of that. And in the next episode, the doctor Johan received an additional payment of another hundred gold escudos during the year 1493.

Courtesy of the Royal Archives of Navarre AGN, Box 164, Document 23, sub-entry (page 59)

"Item delibro el dcho guarda a mtre John delizondo mediquo of his highness for good another assignment that his highness gave him the ultra la annual for the blessing of two mules that the dcho mtre John libro to his highness for the sum of 100 escudos of all the right the present assignment of the right mtre John to the XI of May of the right year LXXXXIII which is foreseen to be signed by his highness and sealed with the seal of arms and signed by the hand of his hand B Bonna Serve. The qoal is dated in Pau on the XV day of March of the year Myl CCCC Ninety three which the hundred escudos were deliberated by the right guard to the right Mtre John the forty escudos on the XI of May and the LX escudos at the end of payment for dcha assignment to XXXI of December of dcho year of LXXXXIII qa quinquo libras seys wages piece montan ————————–> 530 libras".

These two mules were really expensive for the royal family!!

And the arrears were also paid in full, before the closing of the mint accounts at the end of December 1493.

Courtesy of the Royal Archives of Navarre AGN, Box 164, Document 23, sub-entry (page 60)

"Item XXVIII of the month of December of the right year I paid to mtre John delizondo for the last four months of his annual assignment that started on September 1st of the year Thousand CCCC and Nobanta the right Pedro began to pay the premium payment starting in the year of Ninety and one et por la importunydat del dcho mtre John par estiendo q senleudaba razon lepagu por los dchos quoatro meses rezagados the sum of XXXIII escudos de oro y bun tercio qa V libras VI sueldos montan ———————————————–> CLXXVII (177) libras VI Seldo VIII money"

Finally, on January 12, 1494, the king and queen had a coronation ceremony in the cathedral of Pamplona. Both the Agramontes, the Beaumontes, and the foreign kings (Castile-Aragon and France) agreed and the kings were able to distribute the coin after the coronation. Johan of Elizondo may have had some involvement in this agreement and consensus. Did he act as a mediator or secret ambassador all these years? Who knows what happened!!

With this coronation, the kingdom and its royal couple closed a coinage period. The second period will begin in mid-May 1495, and we will discuss this in a later article.

Bibliography:

Señoreaje y Production Monetaria En El Reino De Navarre A Fines del Siglo XV - Juan Carrasco - 2003 -  link

Moneda medieval navarra –Manual de Numismatica – Miguel Ibañez Artica – 2021

Unpublished Navarran coins of Francisco Febus (1479-1483) and Catalina and Juan de Labrit (1483-1512) – Miquel CRUSSAFONT i SABATER – ACTA NUMISMATICA N°12 -1982 – link

Navarre medieval numismatics: antecedents and current situation – Miguel Ibañez Artica – 2000 – link

LA MONEDA EN NAVARRA – MUSEO DE NAVARRA – EXPOSICION DEL 31 DE MAYO AL 25 DE NOV 2001. Miguel Ibáñez Artica – link

CATÁLOGO GENERAL DE LA MONEDA DE NAVARRA – Ricardo Ros Arrogante – 2013 – Altaffaylla argitaretxea

HISTORY OF THE MONEY OF NAVARRA – Joaquín Lizarraga Arizmendi, Miguel Ibáñez Artica, Javier Bergua Arnedo – 1991 – Herper Argitaretxea

Currency Exchange Accounts Excel Sheet AGN164N22 – From Monaco – link

Currency Exchange Accounts Excel Sheet AGN164N23 – From Monaco – link

Noves varietates inèdites – Jordi Vall-Llosera i Tarrés – Acta Numismatica Volum 33, 2003 – P. 115-121 – link

Coin Discovery from the Church of Saint Stephen in Oiartzun – Miguel Ibañez Artica – 1997 – link

Explanatory notes on some gold coins minted in the kingdom of Navarre - Joaquin Lizarraga - Gaceta Numismática, 120, 1996, pp. 11-20

Itinerary of the private kings of Navarre: Juan III de Albret-Catalina I de Foix (1483-1517) – ÁLVARO ADOT LERGA – – link

Origins of the Viceroyalty of Navarre (1479-1486) – ÁLVARO ADOT LERGA – link