Spain 1870-DE M 2 pesetas (75)
This specimen was lot 57833 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Pittsburgh, PA, August 2023), where it sold for $1,080. The catalog description[1] noted, "SPAIN. Provisional Government. 2 Pesetas, 1870 (75)-DE M. Madrid Mint. PCGS MS-63." In 1868, the monarchy was overthrown. The old regime, marred by corruption and scandal and unable to quell rebellions in Catalonia and Cuba, was little mourned. The new government, unable to find a prince willing to accept the throne, established a republic and designed new coins. The system, reformed in 1850 and 1866, was reformed again to conform to the French model. The peso was reduced to 25 grams and set equal to five pesetas with each peseta divisible into 100 centimos. This system would prevail until the coming of the euro. This design was struck in in large numbers in 1869-75 but is very scarce in nice condition. Despite the large "1870" below the figure of Hispania, the actual date is the "75" in the right star.
Recorded mintage: 4,996,834, a slightly better date.
Specification: 10 g, 0.835 fine silver.
Catalog reference: Cayón-17433, KM-654; Cal-33.
- 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.
- 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, August 2023 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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