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Auction: 323 - The Numismatic Collector's Series Sale
Lot: 395

Portugal. Afonso V, "the African" (1438-1481). Real grosso. 3.36 gms. Shield with Portuguese Arms, 10 castles in outer frame of shield, annulet left, right and above; +ALFONSVS: DEI: GRACIA: REX: CAST, rev. Quartered Arms of Castile and Leon in circle; +ALFONSVS: DEI: GRACIA: REX: CASTEL. Gomes 34.03. Very Rare. Called "the African" for his military campaigns in Morocco, Afonso hoped to unite Portugal and Castile. His eyes set on the Castilian throne, he married Joanna of Castile ("La Beltraneja"), the young daughter of Enrique IV of Castile and Joan of Portugal in 1475 (the king's second marriage, his first wife Isabel of Coimbra died in 1455). Afonso assumed the title of King of Castile, and involved himself in the Catalan war of succession, but was defeated at the Battle of Toro in 1476. He sought refuge in Nancy, and attempted to enlist the aid of France's Louis XI. When this was refused, he told his son, the future King João III that he would abdicate and become a hermit in France. He was persuaded to return to Portugal in 1477, but he renounced his reign and signed the Treaty of Alcáçovas in 1479 abandoning any claim to Castile. Extremely Fine.

Sold for
$2,000