Ancient Spanish Coins, the Last Moorish King's Sword and the Cid's Tomb, 1842

An original antique lithograph with hand coloring, from the Galleria Universale di Tutti i Popoli del Mondo (Venice, Giuseppe Antonelli, 1842). The upper image shows three coins tinted gray green, lettered around the edge with the name of P. Carisius (spelled CARLSIVS on the right one): the left one bears a spear, a round shield and a curved blade, the center one a trophy of armor with crossed spears and shields, and the right one a helmeted head beside a dagger. Below them a long straight sword is laid out horizontally, its scabbard decorated in red and gold with dark mounts, the hilt with a curled gold guard and a round pommel. The lower image shows a stone tomb chest on a molded base with corner columns and two carved shields, one with a castle and one with crossed swords and a cross, and on the lid a recumbent effigy with hands raised in prayer.

The top margin is lettered Tom. IV at upper left, "SPAGNA" at center and Tav 9 at upper right. The captions read "Medaglie degli antichi Spagnoli" (Medals of the ancient Spaniards), "Spada dell' ultimo re moro" (Sword of the last Moorish king) and "Sepolcro del Cid e di sua Moglie" (Tomb of the Cid and of his wife).

The coins carry the name of Publius Carisius, the Roman legate who governed in Spain under Augustus, so the plate's "ancient Spaniards" are represented by coinage of Roman Spain. The last Moorish king of Granada was Muhammad XII, known as Boabdil, who surrendered the city to Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492. The Cid is Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, the Castilian warrior who died in 1099; his wife was Jimena.

Three subjects of Spanish history on one sheet make this a good choice for anyone who collects Iberian material.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.