Modern Period

The reign of the Catholic Monarchs is considered to be the transition into the Modern Period. With the dynasty of the House of Austria, production of the gold escudo began, along with the large silver eight real pieces (Spanish dollar), following in the tradition of the Central European thaler.

The Spanish dollar or pieces of eight were made in Castillian and American mints. They were called ducatones and piastras in Italian territories, and thalers in German territories, a term which gave rise to the name dollar.

The centre of the Room is occupied by two models, one of which shows minting by mill. The other shows the location of the Ingenio de la Moneda, established in Segovia in the time of Felipe II for the production of coins using this system imported from Tirol. This technique was used to mint the centén and the cincuentines on display under the title Manufacturing in Segovia.