Eight escudos of Philip V (onza)

An eight-escudos gold coin bearing the name of Philip V — the large gold piece called the onza. It is a Mexico striking of 1735, held by the Bode Museum in Berlin. Following the trunk back brings one to 1537 and the new gold coin, the escudo, introduced by Charles V. Fineness 22 carats, 68 pieces from one marco, 350 maravedís. The models were the French écu au soleil and the Italian scudo — a step down from the ducat standard, and, as the working gold of Europe converged on the 22-carat level, a decision by which Spain too took down its sign as the maker of the purest gold coin. The escudo became the trunk of Spanish gold for centuries after. The doblón of two escudos, the onza of eight — the bloodline of the 'doubloon' of pirate tales starts from this decision. It was struck under Philip V, the first Bourbon king of Spain, come over the Pyrenees. The dynasty changed; the trunk of gold went on.