This is a Spanish 8 Maravedis coin minted during the King Philip III reign, between 1602 and 1621 with several counterstamps done in the 1600’s by the reigning king of Spain to counter inflation and fund ongoing conflicts.

The obverse of the coin depicts a castle, for the ancient city of Castille. The reverse depicts a lion for the Ancient city of Leon.

A member of the House of Habsburg, Philip III was born in Madrid to King Philip II of Spain and his fourth wife, his niece Anna, the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II and Maria of Spain. Philip III later married his cousin Margaret of Austria, sister of Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor.

Although also known in Spain as Philip the Pious, Philip's political reputation abroad has been largely negative.

For many, the decline of Spain can be dated to the economic difficulties that set in during the early years of his reign. Nonetheless, as the ruler of the Spanish Empire at its height and as the king who achieved a temporary peace with the Dutch (1609–1621) and brought Spain into the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) through an (initially) extremely successful campaign, Philip's reign remains a critical period in Spanish history.

This coin is a great addition to any collection of world coins and will be a great conversation starter.

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