Order of Isabella the Catholic, Knight
(Miniature)
Alberto de Castro, doctor, with the Order of Isabella the Catholic
Source: picryl
Source: picryl
Item number: M58
Year: AD 1847-1868
Material: Gold and Enamel
Size: order 17.57 x 12.55 / ribbon 43.31 x 6.74 mm
Weight: 1.4 g
Provenance: La Galerie Numismatique 2023
The Order of Isabella the Catholic is a Spanish civil knighthood established in AD 1815 by King Ferdinand VII (AD 1784-1833)to commemorate Queen Isabella I (AD 1451-1504, under her leadership, Spain achieved unity and prosperity). The purpose of this order is to recognize outstanding contributions to the homeland or the promotion of international relations and cooperation with other nations. It serves as a symbol of gratitude for those who have made noteworthy contributions to Spain, both individuals and institutions, including foreign nationals.
When conferred upon non-Spaniards, it signifies acknowledgment of their contributions to Spain. As of AD 2023, the order continues to honor achievements and collaborations that have positively impacted the nation.
The classification of the Order of Isabella the Catholic has undergone several adjustments. Established in AD 1815, initially, the members were categorized into three classes: Grand Cross, Knight of the First Class, and Knight of the Second Class. In the following year, the Knight of the First Class was renamed Commander, and the Knight of the Second Class was renamed Knight. As of AD 2023, the current hierarchical structure of this knighthood is as follows:
In addition to the aforementioned five classes, Sixth Class Silver and Bronze Medals were established in 1907, according to a royal decree.
The appearance of this medal features a red enamel cross with a golden outer border. The edges of the cross exhibit a serrated pattern, and small golden spheres decorate the peaks of the cross. The central medallion on the obverse has a gold background with the Pillars of Hercules and a crown covering a map of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. The legend on the obverse, inscribed in white enamel, reads “A La Lealtad Acrisolada” (To Proven Loyalty), while the reverse side is inscribed with “Por Isabel la Católica” (For Isabella the Catholic). Above the cross, there is a laurel wreath in green enamel.
The depiction on the central medallion of the reverse side underwent changes due to shifts in the political climate in Spain. During the reign of Ferdinand VII (AD 1815-1847) and the restoration period (AD 1875-1931), the royal cypher of Ferdinand VII was engraved on the medal; in the era of Isabella II (AD 1847-1868), the medal was adorned with the royal cypher of Isabella II; during the Second Republic (AD 1931-1938), the medal portrayed a caravel sailboat; while in the Francoist era (AD 1939-1975), it depicted “FY.” The image on this medal is the royal cypher “Y2” of Isabella II.
The Pillars of Hercules refer to two ancient mountain peaks situated at the entrance of the present-day Strait of Gibraltar, symbolizing the Mediterranean world. These two pillars hold unique symbolic significance in history and mythology, representing the limits of human exploration and navigation.
This coat of arms originates from the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, who concurrently served as the King of Spain, using this royal personal coat of arms. In the Spanish coat of arms, the Pillars of Hercules in the Spanish royal coat of arms consist of two vertical stone pillars surrounded by the royal crown, symbolizing Spain’s sovereignty and territory. These pillars represent the Pillars of Hercules, serving as a symbol of Spain as a maritime power. The pillars are adorned with a sash bearing the Latin inscription “Plus Ultra,” meaning “Further Beyond.” This symbolizes Spain considering the Pillars of Hercules as a gateway to the New World, extending beyond the Mediterranean, and signifies Spain’s extensive overseas colonies, exploring and discovering the New World.
The presence of the Pillars of Hercules holds a significant position in history and culture, and its incorporation into the Spanish coat of arms has made it a symbol of Spain’s rich historical and geographical heritage.
This is a miniature version likely crafted by private artisans. During that era, many recipients would commission local jewelers to create scaled-down or miniature versions of the insignia for easier portability or as substitutes when official replacements were needed. The image below illustrates a price list from the early times, showing various sizes and materials offered by private craftsmen.
provided by Mark Sellar (for Aberdeen Medals)
天主教伊莎貝拉勳章騎士級, 金
(迷你版)
物件編號: M58
年代: 公元 1847-1868 年
材質: 黃金, 琺瑯
尺寸: 勳章 17.57 x 12.55 / 勳帶 43.31 x 6.74 mm
重量: 1.4 g
來源: 貨幣畫廊 2023
此勳章為天主教伊莎貝拉勳章，成立於公元1815年，是斐迪南七世國王(公元1784-1833年)為紀念伊莎貝拉一世女王（公元1451-1504 年，在她的領導下，西班牙實現了統一與繁榮）以及慶祝重登王位而設立。 此勳章是西班牙民事騎士團，以表彰對祖國做出的傑出貢獻或促進國際關係和與其他國家的合作。授予對象包含個人和機構，以及非西班牙的外國人，當授予外國人時，是為了表彰他們對西班牙的貢獻。
天主教伊莎貝拉勳章的分級歷經多次調整，公元1815年設立時成員分為三級：大十字勳章、一級和二級騎士，隔年，一級騎士更名為指揮官，二級騎士更名為騎士。截至公元2023年，此騎士團的等級如下:
除了上面五個等級外，在公元1907 年根據皇家法令，另設立了銀質獎章和銅質獎章。
此勳章的外表為紅色琺瑯的十字架，帶有金色外框，十字架的邊緣為鋸齒紋，尖峰有小金球作為裝飾，正面的圓盤中心以金色為底，刻有海力士之柱，以及王冠覆蓋著東西半球的地圖，外圈的白色琺瑯刻著銘文 “ A La Lealtad Acrisolada ”（證明忠誠），背面為銘文 “ Por Isabel la Católica ”（獻給天主教徒伊莎貝拉），十字架上方是一個綠色琺瑯的月桂花環。
背面圓盤中心描繪的圖像由於西班牙政治事件的影響發生變化；在斐迪南七世統治時期(公元1815-1847年)和復闢時期(公元1875-1931年)，徽章上刻有斐迪南七世的皇家記號；在伊莎貝拉二世統治時期(公元1847-1868年)，徽章上刻有伊莎貝拉二世的皇家記號；在第二共和國（公元1931-1938年），勳章描繪了一艘卡拉維爾帆船，在佛朗哥時代(公元1939-1975年)，勳章描繪了「FY」。此枚勳章描繪的為伊莎貝拉二世的皇家記號「Y2」。
海克利士雙柱（Pillars of Hercules）是古代地中海中的兩座山峰，位於今日的直布羅陀海峽入口，是地中海世界的象徵。這兩座柱子在歷史和神話中擁有特殊的象徵意義，代表了人類探險和航海的極限。
這個護徽起源於神聖羅馬皇帝查理五世，他兼任西班牙國王，使用這個皇家私人徽章。在西班牙的徽章中，西班牙國徽中的海克利士雙柱是兩根垂直的石柱，上方環繞著皇家皇冠，象徵著西班牙的主權和領土。在國徽中，這兩根柱子分別代表著海克利士雙柱，是西班牙作為航海強國的象徵，柱上繞著綬帶，上面刻有拉丁文的銘言「Plus Ultra」，意為「走得更遠」。這象徵著西班牙視海克力士之柱為通向新世界的門戶，而非僅限於地中海，同時也象徵著西班牙在海外擁有廣大殖民地，對新大陸的探險和發現。
海克利士雙柱的存在在歷史和文化中佔據重要地位，而在西班牙國徽中的使用，使其成為了西班牙豐富的歷史和地理傳承的象徵之一。
此枚勳章為民間工匠自製的非官方勳章。在當時，許多受勳者會委託民間的珠寶匠製作縮小或迷你版的勳章以便攜帶，或是作為官方版勳章修補時的替代品。下圖為早期荷蘭民間工匠根據不同尺寸、材質的報價表。
provided by Mark Sellar (for Aberdeen Medals)
