Having collected coins since 2001 and historical documents for just over 3 years its quite rare for the 2 to intersect. I was recently able to obtain a coin that coincides with one of my Royal Spanish documents concerning the 1823 Abolishment of the Constitution and the Restoration of Absolutism, First is a 1823 (2 reales I believe) silver coin commemorating the return of power of King Ferdinand 7th to Power. It also has some very cool Doubling on both sides... In 1820, Spanish Colonel Rafael del Riego y Nunez revolted with many others making an army that were tired of the poor conditions for Soldiers. The soldiers were under constant strain and wars based on the independence wars in the Americas and some problems at home with liberals since Ferdinand's return to the monarchy after captivity by Napoleon. COL Nunez had Ferdinand 7th Surrounded and he was forced to re-enact the 1812 Constitution until a new one could be established. This period was called "el Trienio Liberal". Ferdinand 7th pleaded to the Monarchs at the Council of Vienna and the other fearing the same thing could happen to them decided to help Spain restore its king to power. France sent a large army and eventually Spain was restored back to a monarchy on 3 Oct 1823. Summarized translation: 1823 (21 Oct) King Ferdinand 7th directive signed by Victor Saez for the publication and circulation of the inserted Royal Decree signed by the King on the 3rd of October 1823 in Xerez la Frontierra whereby the Royal and legitimate authority is restored in all the Spanish domains overseas prior to the state of affairs of 9 March 1820 wherein the King and his Royal family were held captive. The Royal Decree expressed the King’s outright condemnation of some individuals in the military who dishonored the King and the Royal family by their cowardly conduct and in subordination in handling the affairs of the overseas territories which suffered the horrors of a civil war. The King later published a Royal decree Abolishing the 1820 Constitution and condemning the suffering of him and his family. Its really amazing to be able to link your coins with other items in history.
I love Ferdinand's signature at the end of the last document. "Yo el Rey". I the King. It was good for Republics to be brought to Europe. Coins are a great link to history. The piece almost looks more like a medal with an equivalent value of 2 reales, since I don't see a denomination on it.
Ferdinand's Signature is very unique. There are two styles I've seen. One when he was held captive by France and it is signed by the President of the Cortes and his own. I originally thought it was a medal type as well but the seller a Spanish coin shop in Spain said they had a 1 Reales and 2 Reales coin. Im not sure of the accuracy of it. I know they had a large silver medal of Restoration but it looks a lot different than these and is about an ounce. This coin is 7grams.
I find that kind of funny. France, a country that had overthrown it own Monarch a little over thrity years earlier, and which had just recently gotten rid of their Emperor, sends a large army to restore a Monarch to the throne.
