Description

2021 marks the anniversary of one of the greatest battles in human history. On 7 October 1571, more than 400 galleys and almost 200,000 men engaged in a battle in the Ionian Sea, south of Greece, between the Ottoman navy and a coalition of Catholic Christian states (the so-called Holy League). Turkish ships had been pressing for control of the western Mediterranean for years. The Italian and Spanish coasts were increasingly threatened and Malta was almost taken in 1565. So Spain, Venice and the Papal States formed an alliance to confront the Turkish navy and stop its advance. In the history of naval warfare, Lepanto is the last major engagement in the Western world to be fought almost entirely between rowing ships

To commemorate this event, the Royal Mint will issue two silver coins: an 8 Reales (27 gr.) and a Cincuentín (5 ounces).

The obverse of the Cincuentín depicts a moment of the battle based on a lithograph by Vicente Urrabieta, which is deposited in the National Library in Madrid. The reverse shows an image of the Spanish King Philip II, the commander-in-chief of the Holy League, Don Juan de Austria, and the commander of the Spanish ships, Don Álvaro de Bazán. Between them are some 'pikes', an ancient weapon widely used by Spanish troops.

The obverse of the 8 reales piece shows the effigy of H. M. Felipe VI. The reverse shows an image of the Galera commanded by John of Austria called "GALERA REAL", which was the flagship of the Holy League. Built in the Royal shipyards of Barcelona in 1568, it was the largest galley of its time.

Click on each link to see enlarged images of each of these coins: 8 reales and cincuentín.

Both coins can be purchased individually, or in a set that includes both silver pieces.

The characteristics of each of the pieces are detailed below:

8 reales

• Composition: .925 sterling silver
• Face Value: 10€
• Weight: 27 g
• Diameter: 40 mm
• Quality: Proof
• Mint Run: 6,000 units

Cincuentín

• Composition: .925 sterling silver
• Face Value: 50€
• Weight: 168.75 g
• Diameter: 73 mm
• Quality: Proof
• Mint Run: 2,500 units

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More details about prices and stocks of this collection of silver coins.