Spain: pre-euro coinage of King Juan Carlos I

Started by <k>, October 02, 2020, 10:37:45 PM

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<k>



Map of Spain.


From Wikipedia:

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southwestern Europe with some pockets of territory across the Strait of Gibraltar and the Atlantic Ocean. Its continental European territory is situated on the Iberian Peninsula. Its territory also includes two archipelagos: the Canary Islands off the coast of North Africa, and the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. The African enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera make Spain the only European country to have a physical border with an African country (Morocco). Several small islands in the Alboran Sea are also part of Spanish territory.

With an area of 505,990 km2 (195,360 sq miles), Spain is the largest country in Southern Europe, the second-largest country in Western Europe and the European Union, and the fourth-largest country by area on the European continent. With a population exceeding 47.3 million, Spain is the sixth-most populous country in Europe, and the fourth-most populous country in the European Union. Spain's capital and largest city is Madrid; other major urban areas include Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza, Málaga, and Bilbao.

In the early modern period, Spain ruled one of the largest empires in history which was also one of the first global empires, spawning a large cultural and linguistic legacy that includes over 570 million Hispanophones, making Spanish the world's second-most spoken native language after Mandarin Chinese. Spain hosts the world's third-largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#3


Juan Carlos and General Franco.


Juan Carlos I is a member of the Spanish royal family. He reigned as King of Spain from November 1975 until his abdication in June 2014. Juan Carlos is the grandson of Alfonso XIII, the last king of Spain before the abolition of the monarchy in 1931 and the subsequent declaration of the Second Spanish Republic. Juan Carlos was born in Rome during his family's exile.

General Francisco Franco took over the government of Spain after his victory in the Spanish Civil War in 1939, yet in 1947 Spain's status as a monarchy was affirmed and a law was passed allowing Franco to choose his successor. Juan Carlos's father, Juan, was the third son of King Alfonso, who had renounced his claims to the throne in January 1941. Juan was seen by Franco to be too liberal and in 1969 was bypassed in favour of Juan Carlos as Franco's successor as head of state.

Juan Carlos spent his early years in Italy and came to Spain in 1947 to continue his studies. After completing his secondary education in 1955, he began his military training and entered the General Military Academy at Zaragoza. Later, he attended the Naval Military School and the General Academy of the Air, and finished his tertiary education at the University of Madrid. In 1962, Juan Carlos married Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark in Athens. The couple had two daughters and a son together: Elena, Cristina, and Felipe. Due to Franco's declining health, Juan Carlos first began periodically acting as Spain's head of state in the summer of 1974. Franco died in November the following year and Juan Carlos became king on 22 November 1975, two days after Franco's death, the first reigning monarch since 1931. His exiled father did not formally renounce his claims to the throne in favor of his son until 1977.

Expected to continue Franco's legacy, Juan Carlos, however, soon after his accession introduced reforms to dismantle the Francoist regime and begin the Spanish transition to democracy. This led to the approval of the Spanish Constitution of 1978 in a referendum which re-established a constitutional monarchy.



General Franco was an often brutal dictator, and he maintained a repressive dictatorship over Spain until his death. From a lower-middle class background, he was an authoritarian right-wing reactionary, who favoured the aristocracy and the Catholic church. King Juan Carlos I skilfully help to manage a relatively peaceful transition to democracy in post-Franco Spain.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#4


The first coins of the reign of Juan Carlos were issued in 1975.

The lowest denomination was the 50 centimos coin.


The aluminium coin had a diameter of 20 mm.

All the coins carried the King's portrait on the obverse.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#5


The reverse design was the same as in the Franco era.

It featured a laurel branch.

The coin was not issued after 1976 because of rising inflation.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#6


The aluminium-bronze 1 peseta coin had a diameter of 21 mm.

This type was not minted after 1980.


The word peseta is a diminutive of the Spanish word peso, meaning weight.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#7


The reverse of the coin featured the coat of arms.

This larger image allows you to see the details more clearly.


The year is shown in the two stars at the left - an old Spanish tradition.

The motto 'Una, grande, libre' means: One (united), great, free.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#8


The obverse of the copper-nickel 5 pesetas coin

It was 23.5 mm in diameter.

This type was not minted after 1980.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#9


The reverse of the 5 pesetas coin.

It showed the personal coat of arms of the King.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#10


Curiously, there was no 10 pesetas coin at this stage.

The obverse of the copper-nickel 25 pesetas coin featured the standard royal portrait.

The coin had a diameter of 26.5 mm.


The reverse design, above, featured the royal crown.

This coin was not minted after 1980.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#11


The reverse of the copper-nickel 50 pesetas coin.

It showed the personal coat of arms of the King.


The coin had a diameter of 30 mm.

This coin type was not minted after 1980.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#12


The reverse of the copper-nickel 100 pesetas coin.

It featured the Spanish coat of arms of the King.


The coin weighed 17 grams and had a diameter of 30 mm.

It was the highest circulating denomination.


This coin type was not minted after 1976.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#13
Spain 50 centimos 1980-.jpg



Spain 50 centimos 1980.jpg


Spain was chosen to host the 1982 FIFA World Cup. In 1980 a series of circulating commemorative coins was issued in advance to honour the occasion. They consisted of the standard denominations of the day, namely 50 centimos, 1, 5, 25, 50 and 100 pesetas. They were all minted to the usual specifications as regards size, weight and metal, but the reverse designs were related to the football theme. The obverse of the coins carried the standard royal portrait as usual.

The year on the obverse was a frozen date of 1980, but the true year of minting was found on the reverse of the coin within the star. Each coin carried the phrase 'España '82' on the reverse.

The special 50 centimos and the 100 pesetas coins were issued in 1980 only, but the remaining denominations were issued from 1980 through to 1982.

Below you see the 50 centimos coin. It was the only one of the set that did not show the year of issue in a star on the reverse.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.

<k>

#14
Spain 1 peseta 82.jpg

The reverse of the FIFA-themed aluminium-bronze 1 peseta coin.
Visit the website of The Royal Mint Museum.

See: The Royal Mint Museum.