American Numismatic Association

20 Nov 2019

The Franco Years and the Peseta

The 1957(65) 5-pesetas minted in Madrid has a mintage of 25,000,000. This copper-nickel coin weighs 5.75 grams and is 23mm in diameter. The central obverse device features a bust of Francisco Franco. The year of authorization is 1957 and the legend is translated, "FRANCISCO FRANCO LEADER OF SPAIN BY THE GRACE OF GOD." The obverse engravers are Manuel Marin and Mariano Benlliure. The central reverse device features St. Johns Eagle with a Spanish Coat of Arms. St. Johns Eagle is known by the halo around the eagle's head. The reverse legend on the ribbon held by the eagle's beak is translated, "One, Great and Free." The reverse legend on the ribbon crossing Hercules Pillars is translated, "Further beyond." On this piece the word "Plus" over the left pillar is unreadable. This defect appears mostly on coins struck before 1968. The denomination of the coin is 5 PTAS and the reverse engraver is Teodoro Miciano. The "65" stamped six-point star to the left denotes that the coin was manufactured in 1965 and struck in Madrid.

18 Nov 2019

1937 Was a Very Bad Year for this Coin

Coins-World | coinsbygary

The 1937 Euzkadi (Basque Country) 1-peseta coin minted in Brussels, Belgium has a mintage of 7,000,000. The coin is struck in nickel, weighs 4 grams, and is 22mm in diameter. The obverse device portrays a bust of Lady Liberty wearing a Phrygian Cap. The legend, “GOBIERNO DE EUZKADI” is properly translated, “Government of Basque Country.” The AB monogram underneath the obverse bust is for engravers, A. Bonnetain and A. Everaerts. The reverse device features a closed wreath with the value 1 peseta and the date 1937 in the middle. On April 1, 1939, the day the nationalists took Spain and the civil war ended, the 1937 Euzkadi 1-peseta was demonetized.

07 Nov 2019

1870(74) 2-peseta

Coins-World | coinsbygary

The 1870(74) 2-peseta coin minted in Madrid has a mintage of 14,892,932. It is 27mm in diameter with a silver fineness of .835 weighing 10 grams. The obverse initials L.M. underneath Hispania's feet refer to engraver Luis Marchionni. The initials D.E. along the lower left rim of the reverse refer to mint assayers Eduardo Díaz Pimienta and Julio de Escosura Tablares. The initial .M. on the lower right rim of the reverse refers to balance judge Ángel Mendoza Ordóñez.

03 Nov 2019

A Coin May Have Saved the Isabelline Line of Spanish Succession

Coins-World | coinsbygary

When I research the coins in my collection I often pour through websites like "Numista" that list dates, mintages, and basic data about world coins. As I have previously posted, I am assembling a Spanish peseta collection. While I was going through the copper issues of the 1870 1, 2, 5, and 10-centimos coins I noticed some anomalies in the years these coins were minted. Interestingly, sometimes you learn more from the questions you ask than you do by the information you absorb. Below are some of the conclusions I drew that you just cannot read in a book. I love connecting the dots in history and drawing my own conclusions. Below are what I think is a compelling argument for my interpretation of history.

28 Sep 2019

In the Mean Time...

Coins-World | coinsbygary

Well it’s been a long time since I last wrote. Retirement has kept me pretty busy at my church having delivered the morning sermon last Sunday and again tomorrow. With all that I am doing, I have a whole new appreciation of pastors. However, I’m not writing about my outside exploits today but my numismatic ones.

19 Oct 2015

Hadrian's Empire and the Spanish Provisional Government

Coins-World | coinsbygary

The Spanish Provisional Government 2 Peseta coin with this write-up resides in my one of my on-line collections. I thought that the the readers of my blogs who may not have read of this coin in my collection might be interested to read about it in my blog.

coinsbygary's Blog