«La única mujer española dedicada a esta tarea»: el coleccionismo de moneda antigua de María Isabel de Bustamante y Guevara y la administración de la renta del tabaco

Abstract

This paper studies the role of María Isabel de Bustamante y Guevara, wife of the former Director de Rentas del Tabaco, Martín de Loynaz, as a collector of ancient coins. The relations she maintained with other outstanding antique dealers such as Pedro Leonardo de Villacevallos, Enrique Flórez and José Guevera y Vasconcelos are analysed. The way in which María Isabel de Bustamante became involved in such a matter, as well as the way in which the social position of her prominent husband could have influenced it are also dealt with. We trace the final desitnation of María Isabel’s collection, which in the end came to be in the hands of the Seminario de Nobles de Madrid.