Spain 1855 20 reales 7 point star
This Spanish twenty reales de vellon was struck in Seville during the middle years of Isabel II (1833-68). This type was struck in Madrid and Seville 1850-55. Instead of the traditional "M" and "S" mintmarks the issues are distinguished by six, seven or eight pointed stars on the reverse (for Madrid, Seville and Barcelona). The "de vellon" coinage system, used 1808-50, was finally dropped. The twenty reales was reduced to 26.91 grams and the copper maravedis dropped in favor of 1/20, 1/10 and 1/5 reales. Unfortunately, the government, financially prostrate as usual, was unable to remint the old coins, which continued to circulate as before.
Recorded mintage: unknown but not rare. Madrid issued 1,229,000 in 1855.
Specification: 26.91 g, 0.900 fine silver, .760 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: Cayón-17206, KM 593.3, Dav-333.
- Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, 2 volumes, Madrid: Cayón-Jano S.L., 2005.
- Calicó, Xavier, Numismática Española: Catálogo General con Precios de Todas las Monedas Españolas Acuñadas desde Los Reyes Católicos Hasta Felipe VI, 1474 a 2020, Barcelona: Aureo & Calicó, 2019.
- O'Connor, Patrick, The Coins of Queen Isabel II of Spain: A Detailed Study of the Coins, Patterns and Medals of Her Reign, San Antonio, TX: Aurora Rarities, LLC, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
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