4 Reales - Charles IV proclamation medal; Malaga

Reverse

View of the port of Malaga, defended by an extensive fortress and topped by two towers with the patrons of the city; a ship in front. Legend above with the motto: "Tanto Monta".

Script: Latin

Lettering:
S• P• Q• MALACIT• IN ACLAM• DICAB• 1789
TANTO MONTA

Engraver: Antonio de Saa

Edge

Plain

Comment

Reference: Ha# 1; V# 693
Tanto monta, monta tanto, Isabel como Fernando or simply Tanto monta, monta tanto ("They amount to the same, the same they amount to") was the alleged motto of a prenuptial agreement made by the Spanish Catholic Monarchs Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. During their joint reign they did in fact support each other effectively in accordance with their motto of equality. Still, the wording "Tanto monta, monta tanto, Isabel como Fernando" is actually a popular saying invented many centuries later, not the real motto. Besides, and contrary to popular belief, Tanto monta was only the motto of King Ferdinand of Aragon, and never used by Isabella.
The motto Tanto monta, monta tanto appeared on the Spanish Royal Standard of the Catholic Monarchs from 1492–1506. Romantic painters represented it on the Spanish flags that Christopher Columbus brought to the New World, but there is no proof that he actually carried them. Later the motto was changed to Plus Ultra which is Latin for "further beyond" referring to Spain and its lands in the Americas.
Wikipedia