Billon Blanca

Struck: 1474 - 1504
Mint: Cuenca
Size: 18mm
Weight: 0.98g
Die Axis: 180°
Grade: VF
Ref: Cayon 2240 ff

Obv: FERNANDVS ET EL ISABET. Crowned monogram.
Rev: REGINA CAST LEGION. Crowned monogram.
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King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile were married on October 19, 1469 in Valladolid. Their marriage united the two kingdoms and laid the foundations for what would eventually become a unified Spain. Ferdinand and Isabella are remembered for authorizing the expedition of Christopher Columbus in search of a westerly route to India which resulted in the knowledge of the Americas in Europe. Their most profound legacy however, is for something much darker.

They soon created a group of judicial police known as the Holy Brotherhood with the intent to restore royal authority. These magistrates were appointed to run the towns and cities and are seen as one of the first steps toward the creation of one of Europe's first strong nation states.

After experiencing a number of revolts, Ferdinand and Isabella ordered the expulsion of all Jews and Muslims from Spain unless they converted to Catholicism. Many were accused of secretly practicing their original religion and were imprisoned, tortured and in some cases burned to death. On November 1, 1478 the Inquisition was formally established in Castile and later extended to all of Spain. This gave the monarchs exclusive authority to name inquisitors and persecute people for such offenses as crypto-Judaism, heresy, Protestantism, blasphemy and bigamy. They created segregated communities and increased pressure on non-Christians with higher taxes and social restrictions. The Inquisition lasted long after their reign with the last trial being held in 1818.

Isabella died on November 26, 1504. Ferdinand remarried to Germaine of Foix and he died on January 23, 1516.