THE XUVIA MINT

Crossing the Xuvia bridge we find a building situated in a small square providing access to a textile factory. This is the old copper and coin factory, known as the Casa do Rexedor. It was built in the 1790’s but it did not start working until the early 19th century. Its original function was to supply copper to the shipyards of Ferrol, particularly plates for lining of the boats’ wooden hulls. Around 500 metres upstream a dam was built, known as A Presa do Rei (The King’s Dam), to take the water which drive the machinery.

 

The manufacture of copper plates not last long owing to the naval disaster of Trafalgar and the War of Independence. Later, in 1811, the Cortes de Cádiz (Spanish national assembly at the time) decided to mint copper coins here with the name of King Fernando VII, owing to the fact that the Segovia Mint was in French hands and was manufacturing in the name of José I. The first coins were made in 1812 and they were maravedís of varying values. Minting stopped in 1827 and was resumed in 1833. From 1868 onwards as well as minting it supplied copper to the Ferrol shipyards.  As from 1874, having ceased its activity as a Royal Factory, and sold in a public auction, it started operating as a fabric factory, an activity which is still retained in some renovated outbuildings.