Spain 1866 5 centimos 8 point star
This specimen was lot 72338 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, October 2021), where it sold for $120. The catalog description[1] noted, "SPAIN. 5 Centimos, 1866. Barcelona Mint. Isabel II. NGC MS-62 Red Brown. The Krause plate coin. Satiny surfaces show ample red for the designation and are remarkably consistent. Intriguingly, the beginnings of a curved clip can be noticed at 3 o'clock on the obverse, where four or so denticles are absent due to lack of metal when striking." This Spanish five centimos was part of the second decimal reform of 1864. In 1850, the 20 reales was reduced to 26.91 grams. This having proven unsatisfactory, the coinage was reformed again in 1864. The 20 reales was dropped in favor of a two escudos silver coin, reduced to 25.96 grams. One hundred centimos = one escudo. Instead of the traditional "M" and "S" mintmarks the issues are distinguished by three, four, six, seven or eight pointed stars on the reverse (for Segovia, Jubia, Madrid, Seville and Barcelona). Unfortunately, the government, financially prostrate as usual, was unable to remint the old coins, which continued to circulate as before. This date also comes with "OM", for Oescher, Mesdach & Cie, die-cutters in Paris. Finally, in 1868-70, after the queen was overthrown and sent into exile, a third reform did what should have been done originally, set the five pesetas equal to the French five francs.
Recorded mintage: unknown but a better date.
Specification: copper, 10 g, 32.2 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-635.1, Cayón-16773.
- 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.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The October 2021 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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