Spain 1866-OM 1/2 centimo 8 point star

from the Mountain Groan Collection

This Spanish half centimo was struck in Barcelona during the late years of Isabel II (1833-68). This type was also struck in Madrid, Segovia, Jubia, and Seville 1864-68. Instead of the traditional mintmarks the issues are distinguished by six, seven or eight pointed stars on the reverse (for Madrid, Seville and Barcelona). In 1850, the twenty reales was reduced to 26.91 grams. This having proven unsatisfactory, the coinage was reformed again in 1864. The twenty reales was dropped in favor of a two escudos silver coin, reduced to 25.96 grams. One hundred centimos = one escudo. Unfortunately, the government, financially prostrate as usual, was unable to remint the old coins, which continued to circulate as before. The coinage would be reformed a third time in 1869 and the branch mints closed, including Segovia. This date is known without the engraver's initials "OM".

Recorded mintage: unknown but fairly common.

Specification: copper, 1.25 g, 15.4-15.7 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: Cayón-16541, KM 632.1.

Source:

• 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.
• 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.

Link to:

• 1863(s) real
• 1864(m) 4 reales
• 1866(seg) centimo
• 1866(b) 2½ centimos
• 1866(Seg) 5 centimos
• 1866(m) 40 centimos
• 1866(m) escudo
• 1866(m) 4 escudos
• 1867(seg) ½ centimo
• Coins and currency dated 1866
• return to coins of Spain