Skip to main content

Ace of Coins: P.14634-R(4)

Object information

Current Location: In storage

Titles

Ace of Coins

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Unknown
Publisher: Felix Solesio & Sons

Entities

Categories

Description

A large coin at the centre containing the coat of arms of Castile and León (castles and lions rampant) with inscribed scrolls above and below. The card is unnumbered. The Spanish term for the suit of Coins is 'Oros'. Each suit is identified by an outline frame known as 'la pinta', which distinguishes the suit without showing the whole card; the Cups have one interruption, the Swords two, the Clubs three, and the Coins none (as is seen here). 'La pinta' first appeared around the mid-17th century. Hand coloured woodcut on pasteboard. From an incomplete set, 51 of 52 playing cards (the Knight of Swords is missing) with Spanish suits in the Cadiz pattern, made in Madrid. The Ace of Coins has scrolls inscribed with the publisher's name and place of production: 'REAL FABRICA DE MADRID' and 'POR D FELIX / SOLESIO E HIJOS' (trans. 'Felix Solesio and Sons'). The Four of Coins includes a shield at the centre containing the inscription: 'NAYPES / FINISINOS / FABIRCADOS / FN MADRID / H 1801'. The Two of Cups includes the inscription: 'PARA CARACAS' [trans., 'To Caracas'], indicating that the pack was created for export to Caracas (Venezuela) and the Spanish colonies in South America. The backs of the cards are printed in blue ink with a repeated pattern of flower shapes composed of seven small dots. The British Museum holds a very similar complete pack of 52 cards which was published by Felix Solesio and Sons in 1802. See: 1896,0501.831. See Notes.

Legal notes

Given by H.D. Catling, 1930-02-01

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1930-02-01) by Catling, H.D.

Dating

19th Century
Production date: AD 1801

Note

Height 90mm x width 56mm

School or Style

Spanish

Techniques used in production

Hand colouring
Woodcut

Identification numbers

Accession number: P.14634-R(4)
Primary reference Number: 225127
O'Donoghue (Schreiber): 55
Schreiber (playing cards): 3.98
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Wednesday 5 September 2018 Updated: Monday 15 January 2024 Last processed: Monday 15 January 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Ace of Coins" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/225127 Accessed: 2024-12-18 12:22:54

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/225127 |title=Ace of Coins |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-18 12:22:54|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:

https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/api/v1/objects/object-225127

Sign up for updates

Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...