Theescudo was either of two distinctSpanishcurrency denominations.
The first escudo was agold coin introduced in 1535/1537, with coins denominated in escudos issued until 1833. It was initially worth 16reales. When different reales were introduced, the escudo became worth 16reales de plata in 1642, then 16reales de plata fuerte or 40reales de vellón from 1737.
Gold coins were issued in denominations of1⁄2, 1, 2, 4 and 8 escudos, with the 2 escudos coin known as thedoubloon. Between 1809 and 1849, coins denominated as 80, 160 and 320 reales (de vellon) were issued, equivalent, in gold content and value, to the 2, 4 and 8 escudo coins.Most were minted in Madrid, marked with a superscripted M or in Seville bearing an S below and left of the Royal Coat of Arms. The mintmaster's initials appeared on the opposite side.
The second escudo was the currency ofSpain between 1864 and 1869. It was subdivided into 100céntimos de escudo. The escudo replaced thereal at a rate of 10 reales = 1 escudo. It was itself replaced by thepeseta, at a rate of2+1⁄2 pesetas = 1 escudo, when Spain joined theLatin Monetary Union. The later silver escudo was worth one quarter of the earlier, gold escudo.
Copper coins were issued in denominations of+1⁄2, 1,2+1⁄2 and 5 céntimos; silver coins of 10, 20 and 40 céntimos, 1 and 2 escudos; and gold coins of 2, 4 and 10 escudos. The 1 escudo was introduced in 1864, followed by the other silver and gold coins in 1865 and the copper coins in 1866. All the coins were minted until 1868, with 10 escudos also minted in 1873 during theFirst Republic.
