Castile-León and Aragón were independent countries so that after unification in 1479 their currencies had to be adjusted. Ferdinand introduced the Venetian type of the ducat (3,5g gold) in 1483. In 1497 the monetary reform "Real pragmática de Medina del Campo" was implemented in Castile: Only seven mints remained operating (Burgos, Cuenca, Granada, Sevilla, Toledo, Coruña, Segovia). No seigniorage was intended. For the first time, mintmarks and an assayer's marks on coins were prescribed. The Real in silver (3,24g) and the Excelente in gold (3,5g) as well as their multiples and partitions were introduced. The mintage of the renowned thaler-like 8-Reales-pieces (~27g) began later but perfectly fitted into this monetary system. They were used for trade throughout the world for several centuries.

Doble Castellano n. d. (1475-97), Sevilla.     Ø 34 mm, 9.18 g.   Cayón 2757; Friedb.147.
Obv.:   FᗺRnAnDVS:ᗺԾ+ᗺILISABᗺԾh܀DᗺI:GRAᗭIA-RᗺX:ᗺԾ Rᗺgina   in gothic letters (Ծ=T).
Crowned King and Queen sitting on a throne and holding sword and sceptre.
Rev.:   SVB:VnBRA:ALARVn܀ԾVARVn+PROԾᗺGᗺ×nOS+   in gothic letters.
"sub umbra alarum tuarum protege nos" = "In the shadow of the wings take us under your protection"
Arms of Castile-León and Aragón-Sicily side by side under a shared crown,
in the background the haloed eagle of the evangelist John, on its tail the mintmark S for Sevilla.

Castellano n. d. (1475-97), Burgos.     Ø 27 mm, c. 4,6 g.   Cayón -.
Obv.:   ✠ᗭhOS:DᗺVS:COnSVnSIT:OᙏO:nOn:S
in gothic letters for: "quod Deus coniunxit homo non separet"
"Those who were copulated by God shall not be separated by man"
Crowned busts of Ferdinand and Isabel, face to face.
The eyecatching central dot between the faces is not a mintmark!
You can also find a central dot on the reverse if you look closely.
Rev.:   F - ᗺRnAnDVS:ᗺT:ᗺLISABᗺT - Dᗺi Gratia
Arms of Castile and León with mintmark B for Burgos under a crown.

The gold Castellano weighing 4,6 g had been introduced in Castile by Enrique IV. It was minted since 1475 and showed the busts of the catholic Kings facing each other. The coin was highly valued and therefore called "excelente". In Barcelona and Valencia, however, the gold ducat of 3,5g was introduced in 1483. A coinage act was passed in 1497 in order to unify gold coin standards within Spain and the Excelente of 3,5 g and 23,75 carat replaced the Castellano in Castile.

Doble excelente (after 1497), Toledo.     Ø 28 mm, 7,01 g.   C.C.T.77 (type 74); Friedb.130.
+FᗺRnAnDVS:ᗺT:ᗺLISABᗺT:DᗺI:GRATIA:RᗺX:ᗺT:  //  SVB VnBRA:ALARVᙏ:TVARVᙏ:PROTᗺGᗺ:nOS:SV:

Doble excelente (post. 1497), Sevilla.     Ø 28 mm, 6,8 g.   Cayón 2783.
Obv.:   ✠FERNANDVS◦ET◦ELISABET◦DEI GRATIA◦⦂
Ferdinand and Isabel, crowned and face to face.     Star and "S" are mintmarks.
Rev.:   SVB◦VN(m)BRA◦ALARVN(m)◦TVARVM◦PROTege◦nos

Excelente (1479-1504), Sevilla.     Ø 22 mm, 3,44 g.   Friedb.136.
Obv.:   +S(=Q)VOS·DᗺVS:ᗭOnIVnGIT:hOᙏO:nOn:Separet:   -   Crowned busts face to face.
Rev.:   :FERnAnDVS:ᗺT:hᗺLISABᗺ   -   Crowned quartered arms (without eagle). Mintmark S*.

The well-known image of the royal couple facing each other and the united coats of arms on the reverse indicated the firm intention to unite the kingdoms of Castile and Aragón. Special coinages of values up to 50 excelentes were equally programmatic. The image of the obverse became very popular and was copied by other royal couples: by Philip II & Mary Tudor (shilling 1554), by Francis II & Maria Stuart and by Albert & Isabel, governors of the Spanish Netherlands.

Compare the wedding portrait of Ferdinand and Isabella of 1469 [at the Palacio del Convento de las MM. Agustinas, Madrigal de las Altas Torres, Spain] with a choice of facing busts on their undated gold coins from Castile. The busts on the coins are no longer dimly, as in the Middle Ages. The engraver tried for an individual representation, but did not achieve recognizability.

Effigy of the royal couple on coins issued in Ferdinands territory

Ducat n. d., Valencia.     Ø 23 mm, 3,48 g.   C./C./T.135 ; Friedb.82.
Obv. with crown (mintmark for Valencia) between the effegies and S|S in the exergue (assayer's mark).
Rev.: arms as before, here without the evangelist John's eagle.

Ducato n. d. (1503-04), Naples.    Ø 22,5 mm, 3,48 g.   CNI 6; Pannuti Riccio 1; Friedb.827.
Obv.:   +QVOS - DEVS CONIVNGIT◦hOMO NOn◦SEParet
"Those who were copulated by God shall nobody separate"
Rev.:   FERNANDVS◦ET◦ELISAB◦D:G
Crowned shield with the arms of Castile|León, Naples (Aragón|Jerusalem|Hungary),
Aragon|Sicily and Granada.   Mintmaster's mark I-T (Giancarlo Tramontano).

Carlino n. d. (1503-4), Naples.     Ø 26 mm, 3,50 g.   Pannuti Riccio 2.
Obv.:   ✠FERNANDVS◦ET◦HELISABET⦂D⦂G⦂   -   bust of Ferdinand
behind: T (sign of mintmaster Giancarlo Tramontano)
Rev.:   ✠REGES◦ISPANIE ET◦VTRIVSQVE◦SICiliae   -   bust of Isabel
utriusque Siciliae = "both Sicilies" (Naples and Sicily)

Carlino n. d. (1503-04), Naples.    Ø 25 mm, 3,59 g.   Pannuti Riccio 4.
Obv.:   +FERNANDVS⦂ET◦ELISABET◦D G

bust of Ferdinand,   at the back: G (sign from mint master Marcello Gazzella)

Rev.:   +Rex:ARAGONVM:Et - (pomegranate) - VTRIVSQue◦SIciliae:Et
The uncrowned quartered coat of arms fills the round field.

The quartered coat of arms on this and on the next coin: top left and bottom right: Castile (castle) | León (lion). top right: Naples (Aragón|Jerusalem{crutch cross}|Hungary). bottom left: Aragón and Sicily. at the very bottom: Granada (pomegranate with two leaves).

Ferdinand's effigy alone on coins of his territory

Kingdom of Naples

Ducato n. d., Naples.     Ø 22 mm, 3,53 g.   Pannuti Riccio 2c; MIR 117/4; Friedb.828.
Obv.:   +FERNANDVS◦ - D◦G◦R◦AR◦V◦SI   -   crowned bust to the right.
Rev.:   FERNANDVS◦D◦G◦Rex◦ARagon◦Vtriusque◦SIciliae
Crowned arms between I - T (Gian Carlo Tramontano, mintmaster 1488-1514).

Kingdom of Sicily

Doppio trionfo n. d. (1503-04), Messina.    Ø 28 mm, 6,99 g.  Spahr 211; MIR 235.
Obv.:   ✠FERDINANDVS:D:G:Rex:Castelia:Aragonum:   -   crowned bust to the left.
Rev.:  ✠FERDINANDVS:D:G:Vtriusque:SICILIE:
crowned eagle between I - N (Giovanni Nobile, mintmaster 1503-25).

Trionfo n. d., Messina (Sicily), 1490-1503.    Ø 23 mm, 3,54 g.  Spahr 34; MIR 237/5; Friedb.659.
+FERDINANDVS⦂D⦂G⦂R⦂CASTELLE⦂S   //   +FERDINANDVS⦂D⦂G⦂REX⦂SICILIE⦂

Doppio tari, Messina.     Ø ? mm, 5,57 g.   Spahr 218A; MEC 14; MIR 243; Crusafont 877.
Obv.:   +:FERDIN - ANDVS:DEI:GRACIA     crowned bust left.
Rev.:   +REX:CATHOLICVS:HISp:V:SICILI     crowned eagle between I - N.

Tari, Messina.     Ø 22? mm, 3,10 g.   Spahr 174var; MEC 14, p.330; MIR 246.
+FERDINAND[VS] DEI G R [C]ASTELE (bust l.)  //  +FERDINANDVS:DEI G:R:SICILIE (eagle)

Tari, Messina.     Ø 22? mm, 3,00 g.   Spahr 223/242; MIR 249.
+FERDINANDVS·DEI·GRACIA  (bust right)  //  +REX·CATHOLICVS·HISPA·V·SICILIE  (eagle)

Kingdom of Sardinia

Reale n. d., Cagliari (Sardinia).     Ø 25 mm, 3,03 g.   CNI 1var pl.42,1; Piras 22; MIR 17.
Vs.:   +FᗺRDInAnDVS·D·G RᗺX·ARAgoniae·SAdiniae·
Rs.:  +InIᙏIᗭOS ᗺIVS InDVAᙏ COnFVSIO
"Seine Feinde will ich mit Schanden kleiden" (Psalm 132,18)

Aragonese territories in Spain

Principat (ducat) n. d. (before 1504), Barcelona.     Ø 22 mm, 3,49 g.   Friedb.32.
Obv.: FERDINANDVS:D:G:REX:   -   lion in a small shield behind the crowed bust.
This nice effigy was modelled on a Renaissance coin: Naples, Ferdinand I, 1458-94, ducat.
Rev.:   CASTELLE:ARAgon:COME:Barcelona   -   crowned arms: Castile-León | Aragón-Sicily.

1/2 Principat n. d., Barcelona.     Ø 17 mm, 1,74 g.   Cru.V.S.1132; Cru.C.G.3064.
Obv.:   FERDInAnDVS·D·G·REX   -   Crowned head to the right.
Rev.:   CASTELLE·ARA·CO·BA   -   Crowned coat of arms of Aragón.

Croat n. d., Barcelona.     Ø 24 mm, 3,22 g.   Crusafont 1137.4.
Obv.:   FᗺRDInAnDUS:D:G:X   -   crowned head left.
Rev.:   CIVI - ԾAS B - AᗭIn - OnAԾ   -   Long cross, rings and three bullets in the angles.

1/2 Croat n. d., Barcelona.     Ø 17 mm, 1,31 g.   Crusafont 3079.
Obv.:   FᗺRDInAnDUS·D·G·RᗺX   -   crowned head left.
Rev.:   CIVI - ԾAS B - ARᗭh - nOnA   -   Long cross, rings and three bullets in the angles.

1/4 Croat n. d., Barcelona.     Ø c.13 mm, 0,82 g.   Cayón 2261.
B behind the head   //   BAR - CA - nO - nA

Ducato n. d., Mallorca.     Ø 22 mm, 3,50 g.   Crusafont 1137.4.
+FERDINANDVS REX ARAGONVM   //   MAIORICARVM (arms with 3 moons) CATOLICVS

Double ducat n. d., Valencia.     Ø 26 mm, ca.6,9 g.   CA-30; Friedb.85.
Obv.:   ✠FᗺERDInAnDVS:DᗺI:GRATIA:RᗺX◦   -   crowned bust between half arches.
Rev.:   ✠◦VALᗺnCIᗺ:ᙏAIO [small lion coat of arms] RICARVᙏ:SᗺRD'◦  -  Crowned arms of Valencia.
Legend over both sides: "Ferdinand by God's grace king of Valencia, Majorca, Sardinia"

Ducat n. d. (after 1504), Valencia.     Ø 22 mm, 3,44 g.   Friedb.86.
Obv.:   ✠ FERDINANDVSᕁDEI GRACIAᕁ   -  crowned bust to the left.
Rev.:  ✠VALENCIEᕁMA [shield with lion] IORICARVMᕁSE(a)rdinia  -  crowned arms of Valencia.

The Kingdom of Valencia, though a part of Aragón, coined in its own name and used its own shield.
Compare the Valencian double ducat of Charles V.

Compare with a later painting [Late 15th / early 16th century, 28x22 cm, KHM, Viena].

Doble real de oro n. d. (after 1512), Navarra.     Ø 28 mm, 7,00 g.
Obv.:   FᗺRnAnDVS⦂D⦂G:Rex⦂NAVArra   -   crowned bust.
Rev.:   SIT⦂nOᙏᗺn DOᙏINI⦂Bᗺnedictum   "The name of the Lord be praised"
crowned arms of Navarra.

Ducat n. d., Perpignan.     Ø 22 mm, 3,42 g.   C./C./T.40; Friedb.32.
Legend over both sides: FERDINANDVS·D·G·REX·CAST  //  ELE·ET·ARAGONVM·COMES·
crowned bust to the right, crescent moon   //   crowned arms, between P - P (Perpignan).

10 Ducats n. d., Zaragoza.     Ø 36 mm, 36,60 g.  
Obv.:  FᗺRDInAnDVS:R:DᗺI:GRACIA:ARAGOn:VAlencia   - in gothic script
crowned bust between C-A (mintmark for Zaragoza).
Rev.:  TRIVNFATOR:ET:CATOLICVS:CRIISTIANIS   - in Antiqua:
"Triumphator and Catholic Christian",
crowned arms of Aragón between L - S (ensayador Luis Sánchez).

1/2 Real n. d., Aragón.     Ø c.21 mm.   CA-138.
+FᗺRDInAnDVS: DᗺI:GR:R.   //   ARAGOnVM:ET.CASԾᗺL:   (Ծ = T)

Dinero n. d., Aragón.     Ø c.15 mm, 0,70 g.   Cru.V.S. 1308 var; Cru.C.G. 3208d.
+⦂F⦂DᗺI⦂ - ⦂G⦂RᗺX⦂   //   +ARAGOnVᙏ⦂VALᗺ◦⦂

Ref.:
Crusafont I Sabater, M.: Numismatica de la Corona Catalano-Aragonesa medieval 785-1516, Madrid 1982
Cru.C.G: Catàleg general de la moneda catalana, Barcelona 2009, auf Catalan
Cru.V.S: Acuñaciones de la Corona Catalano-Aragonesa y de los Reinos de Aragon y Navarra: Medioevo y tránsito a la Edad Moderna (Catalogo general de las monedas Españolas, vol.IV), Madrid 1992
Cayon-Castan: Las Monedas españolas desde los reyes Visigodos año 406 a Juan Carlos I, Madrid 1983
Idem.: Las Monedas españolas desde los reyes Catolicos año 1474 ..., Madrid 1974, numeración obsoleta !
Calicó y Trigo (C./C./T.) : Numismatica Española: catálogo de todas las monedas emitidas desde los Reyes Catolicos a Juan Carlos I, 1474-1998, Barcelona, ed. 1998
Numismática Española, Catálogo de todas las monedas emitidas desde los Reyes Católicos hasta Felipe VI. 1474 a 2019, editor: Áureo & Calicó, Barcelona 2019
Pannuti-Riccio: M.Pannuti, V.Riccio, Le Monete di Napoli, Lugano 1984