Spain 1884-MS M 2 pesetas (84)
The ouster of the monarchy in 1868 failed to bring stability to Spain. A short-lived republic yielded to the rule of Amadeo I, a prince from Italy who, finding nobody willing to listen to his suggestions, abdicated in 1873 and returned to Italy. In 1874, Isabel's son Alfonso was invited to assume the crown and coins were issued in his name. In 1869, 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 1881-84 but the 1882 is the only readily available date. This specimen was lot 493 in Aureo sale 269 (Barcelona, July 2015), where it sold for €170 (about US$220 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"1884*1884. Alfonso XII. MSM. 2 pesetas. Leves marquitas. EBC. (Spain, Alfonso XII, two pesetas of 1884, light marks, extremely fine.)"
Recorded mintage: 2,819,000.
Specification: 10 g, 0.835 fine silver, .268 troy oz ASW, this specimen 9,93 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-17502, Cal. 53, KM 678.2.
- [1]Sisó, Teresa, Eduardo Domingo and Lluís Lalana, Subasta Numismática, Barcelona: Aureo y Calicó Subastas, 2015.
- 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.
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