In 1852, a monetary reform was carried out in the Kingdom of Spain with the transition to the decimal system: 1 real=10 decimo=100 centimo. This ended the seven-century era of circulation of "maravedi" - the monetary unit of Spain and Portugal since the XII century. At that time, Queen Isabella II, an imperious and ambitious ruler, was on the Spanish throne. As in other countries of the world during this period, the liberal movement is gaining strength in Spain. Spanish moderates and progressives set as their goal to change the existing political system in the state.
Queen Isabella II of Spain (reigned 1833-1868)
KM # 615.2, 25 centimo 1864 (Segovia MD), copper, years 1854-1864
In 1864, in Spain, in order to prepare the country's economy for joining the Latin Monetary Union, a monetary reform was carried out with the introduction of a new monetary unit - escudo, which was equal to 10 reais or 100 centimos.
KM # 632.1, ½ centimo 1868 (8 ray star), copper, years 1866-1868
KM # 633.2, 1 centimo 1868 (4 ray star), copper, years 1866-1868
KM # 634.1, 2 ½ centimo 1868 (8 ray star), copper, years 1866-1868
KM # 635.1, 5 centimo 1867 ( 8 ray star), copper, years 1866-1868
In 1868, Queen Isabella II of Spain, learning about the defeat of government troops from the rebels in the Battle of Alcolea, decided to leave the country and seek asylum from King Napoleon III of France.
The opposition provisional government adopted a new Constitution, several liberal decrees and ensured Spain's entry into the Latin Monetary Union. At the same time, the monetary unit was transferred from real (until 1866) and escudo (1866-1868) to the Spanish peseta (1869-2002), with an exchange rate of 1 escudo=2 ½ pesetas. Fractional units remained the same - centimo. The word "peseta" literally translates from Catalan as "little piece."
Silver 20, 50 centimes, 1, 2, 5 pesetas were issued in 1869, copper 1, 2, 5 and 10 centimes a year later, in 1870.
KM # 660, 1 centimo 1870, copper, 170 MMex. single year of manufacture
KM # 661, 2 centimo 1870, copper, 116 M ex, single year of manufacture
KM # 662, 5 centimo 1870, copper, 287.4 M ex, single year of manufacture
KM # 663, 10 centimo 1870, copper, 170.1 M ex, single year of manufacture
Coins in denominations of 1 peseta in 1869 were issued in two versions: with the legend "GOBIERNO PROVISIONAL" (Provisional Government) and with the legend "ESPANA."
KM # 652, 1 peseta 1869, silver 0.835, 7 million ex. only year of production
After the Glorious Revolution, the transition from monarchical to republican form of government did not occur in Spain. Having got rid of Isabella II, the Parliament of Spain (Cortes) took care of the search for a new monarch. In the end, he became Amadeus I of the Savoy dynasty, the second son of the Italian king Victor Emmanuel II and brother Umberto I.
King Amadeo I of Spain (reigned 1870-1873)
Let's try to deal with the coins issued during his reign (1870-1873). With his profile, only one silver 5 pesetas coin was issued. Moreover, even after his abdication, when power in the country passed to the Republican government (1873-1874), and even later, in 1875, coins of this type still continued to be issued.
KM # 666, 5 pesetas 1871, silver 0.900, 13.6 million exes, years 1871-1875
Denominations of 1 and 2 pesetas at this time continued to be issued according to the design of the Provisional Government with Sitting Freedom.
KM # 654, 2 pesetas 1870 (73), silver 0.835, 11.9 M ex. years 1868-1875
In 1874, after a short "First Republic," the military proclaimed King of Spain Alfonso XII - the son of Isabella II (born, according to rumors, from an extramarital affair with officer Enrique Puigmolto).
King Alfonso XII of Spain (reigned 1874-1885)
During the 11 years of reign (1874-1885), the portrait of the monarch on coins was changed only once. The first issue with the "young" Alfonso took place in 1875, the second, with the "mature" in 1879.
KM # 671, 5 pesetas 1876, silver 0.900, years 1875-1876
KM # 674, 5 centimo 1878, bronze, 68 M ex. years 1877-1879
KM # 675, 10 centimo 1877, bronze, 29.6 M ex. years 1877-1879
KM # 685, 50 centimo 1880 (80), silver 0.835, 2.8 M ex. years 1880,1881,1886
KM # 686, 1 peseta 1883 (83), silver 0.835, 8.4 M ex. years of issue 1881-1885
KM # 678, 2 pesetas 1884 (84), silver 0.835, 2.8 million exes, years 1879-1884
KM # 688, 5 pesetas 1885, silver 0.900, issue years 1881-1887
Alfonso XII died in 1885 from tuberculosis, not having lived 3 days before his 28th birthday. It should be noted that coins with dates 1886 and 1887 were issued after the death of the monarch.
At the time of the death of the king, his wife was pregnant with her third child. Having two daughters from marriage with her, it depended on the sex of the unborn child who would get the Spanish throne. In the event of the birth of a third daughter, the eldest of the daughters would become the queen of Spain, but a boy was born, who later became king of Spain Alfonso XIII.
Despite the fact that immediately after birth, in 1886 Alfonso XIII was proclaimed king, before coming of age, his mother Maria Christina of Austria was regent under the king.
King Alfonso XIII of Spain (reigned 1886-1931)
The first issue of coins took place when the king was 3 years old. These were silver 50 centimes, 1, 2 and 5 pesetas.
KM # 690, 50 centimes 1892, silver 0.835, 4 million exes, years 1889-1892
KM # 691, 1 peseta 1891, silver 0.835, 4.9 million ex. years 1889, 1891
KM # 692, 2 pesetas 1892, silver 0.835, 1.4 million exes, years 1889-1892
KM # 689, 5 pesetas 1891, silver 0.900, 11.6 million exes, years 1888-1892
In 1892, a line of silver coins of 50 centimos, 1, 2 and 5 pesetas with a portrait of the 6-year-old king was issued.
KM # 703, 50 centimo 1894, silver 0.835, 1.1 M ex, single year
KM # 700, 5 pesetas 1892, silver 0.900, 7 million exes, years 1892-1894
In 1896, a new line of coins. The king is 10 years old. 2 pesetas decided not to release and limit themselves to denominations of 50 centimos, 1 and 5 pesetas.
KM # 705, 50 centimo 1900, silver 0.835, 2.1 M ex. years 1896, 1900
KM # 706, 1 peseta 1896, silver 0.835, 6.4 million ex. years of production 1896-1902
KM # 707, 5 pesetas 1898, silver 0.900, 40 million exes, years 1896-1899
The following release of a line of coins was dated for majority of the monarch. For the first time in his reign, denominations of 1 and 2 centimos were issued.
KM # 726, 1 centimo 1906, bronze, 7.5 MMex, single year of manufacture
KM # 727, 2 centimo 1905, bronze, 5 million ex. years 1905, 1906
The line of silver denominations was released without 5 pesetas, only 50 centimes, 1 and 2 pesetas
KM # 723, 50 centimo 1904 (10), silver 0.835, 5.3 M ex. years 1904 (04), 1904 (10)
KM # 721, 1 peseta 1903 (03), silver 0.835, 10.6 M ex. years 1903-1905
KM # 725, 2 pesetas 1905 (5), silver 0.835, 3.6 M ex. only year of issue
The next "limited" line of coins was issued in 1910.
KM # 731, 1 centimo 1912, bronze, 2.1 million copies, years 1911-1913
KM # 732, 2 centimo 1912, bronze, 5.2 million ex. years of production 1911,1912
KM # 730, 50 centimo 1910, silver 0.835, 4.5 M ex, single year of manufacture
In 1925-1927, the last issue of coins took place with Alfonso XIII as King of Spain. In 1931, under the onslaught of a republican-minded population, the king left the country.
For the first time in the history of Spanish coins, denominations of 25 centimos appear from material not previously used in the manufacture of coins - a copper-nickel alloy.
KM # 740, 25 centimo 1925, copper-nickel alloy, 8 million equivalent, only year of production
KM # 742, 25 centimo 1927, copper-nickel alloy, 12 million equivalent, single year of manufacture
KM # 741, 50 centimo 1926, silver 0.835, 4 M ex, single year of manufacture
The difficult economic and, as a result, political situation in Spain of those years is evidenced by the fact that local money (tokens) of various entities began to receive wide distribution.
Barcelona Cooperative Union 5 pesetas 1927
The Second Spanish Republic lasted from 1931 to 1939. After the Republicans won elections in most major cities and King Alfonso XIII left the country, power in Spain passed to the Provisional Government of the Republic of Spain.
On the coins of the Republic, traditionally recognizable symbols: female images personifying Freedom, ears, broken chains, gears, etc.
KM # 750, 1 peseta 1933, silver 0.835, 2 million ex. only year of production
KM # 751, 25 centimo 1934, copper-nickel alloy, 12.3 M equivalent, single year of manufacture
1937. Renewal of the Republican coin line.
KM # 752, 5 centimo 1937, iron, 10 million copies, only year of production
KM # 754.1, 50 centimo 1937 (34), copper, 50 million ex. years of production 1937 (34), 1937 (36), version with "round" points in a circle.
KM # 754.2, 50 centimo 1937 (36), copper, 1 million ecz., Only year of production, option with "square" dots in a circle.
KM # 755, 1 peseta 1937, brass, 50 million ex. only year of manufacture
And the last coin issued with the legend "Republic of Spain." A broken chain in the background of an open book with the inscription "CIENCIA" (science).
KM # 757, 25 centimo 1938, copper, 45.5 M ex, single year of manufacture
The armed coup of 1936, when nationalists led by Francisco Franco overthrew the legitimate republican government, led to the civil war of 1936-1939.
The next coin with the date 1937 was issued by the Vienna Mint in 1938, when most of Spain was already under the control of the nationalists. Look out for the name of the state and the emblem of the Spanish Phalanx - a far-right nationalist party.
KM # 753, 25 centimo 1937, copper-nickel alloy, 42 million equivalent, single year of manufacture
Emblem of the Spanish Phalanx
A number of Spanish provinces that have adopted one side or the other of the armed conflict issued their banknotes during this period. Here are some of the most common.
Coins of Euzkadi - a country that united three Basque provinces and declared its independence in 1936. Coins issued in Brussels, legend "Gobierno de Euzkadi" (Government of Euzkadi).
KM # 1, 1 peseta 1937, nickel, 7 million ex. only year of production
KM # 2, 2 pesetas 1937, nickel, 6 million ex. only year of manufacture
The following coins are also from the Republican camp. Joint release of the two Spanish provinces of Asturias and Castile-Leon. Legend "Consejo de Asturias y Leon" (Council of Asturias and Leon).
KM # 1, 50 centimo 1937, copper-nickel alloy, 200 thousand equivalent, only year of production
KM # 2, 1 peseta 1937, copper, 100 kEq, single year of manufacture
KM # 3, 2 pesetas 1937, copper-nickel alloy, 400 thousand equivalent, only year of production
Coins of joint issue of the provinces of Santander, Palencia and Burgos, who also considered themselves to be the camp of the Republicans.
KM # 1.1, 50 centimes 1937, copper-nickel alloy, 100 thousand equivalent, only year of production
KM # 2, 1 peseta 1937, copper-nickel alloy, 300 thousand equivalent, only year of production
Coins of the island of Menorca, also included in the sphere of influence of the Republicans, were issued in relatively small editions of 24-42 thousand exes. I present to your attention so far the only coin from the line.
KM # 3. 25 centimos 1937, brass, 38 thousand copies, only year of manufacture
Republican forces supported by the USSR and international volunteers were defeated by nationalists supported by fascist Germany, Italy and Portugal. Power in Spain passed into the authoritarian rule of Caudillo (chief) Franco.
Several coins of the 40s, the period of the nationalist government in power in Spain.
KM # 765, 5 centimo 1945, aluminum, 221.5 million copies, years 1940-1953
KM # 766, 10 centimo 1940, aluminum, 225 M ex. years 1940-1953
KM # 767, 1 peseta 1944, aluminum-bronze alloy, 150 million copies, only year of production.
In conclusion, I will add that after the death of Franco in 1975, the restoration of the monarchy took place in Spain. Juan Carlos I, the grandson of Alfonso XIII and the father of the current ruling king of Spain, Philip VI, ascended the Spanish throne.