Spain 1890-MP M 5 pesetas (90)
This specimen was lot 50622 in Ponterio sale 168 (Philadelphia, August 2012), where it sold for $382. The catalog description[1] noted, "SPAIN. 5 Pesetas, 1890-MPM. NGC MS-61." In 1885, Alfonso XII died young of tuberculosis, leaving a posthumous son who was crowned Alfonso XIII. 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, issued while the king was an infant, was struck in large numbers 1888-92 and is fairly common in grades up to Very Fine; nice specimens like the one shown are scarce and expensive.
Recorded mintage: 4,275,000 for assayer MP-M (1885-90) and 3,000,000 for assayer PG-M (1890-92).
Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, .723 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: Cayón-17636, KM-689, Cal-Type 8 #15, Dav-342.
- 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 Juan Carlos I, 1474 a 2001, Barcelona: Aureo & Calicó, 2008.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Ponterio sale 168: The Official ANA Auction, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2012.
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