1870 Spain 10 Centimos

Coinage, especially silver coinage of Spain, was in short supply in Spain during and shortly after the reign of Isabel II. Coins from France and other European countries were also in circulation in Spain at the time. Silver and copper/bronze coins of Isabel's reign and the subsequent Spanish governments saw heavy use. This is why most are encountered below XF condition.

The allegory of Spain, Hispania, seen on the obverse was engraved by Luis Marchionni. Marchionni's career began in the midst of Isabel II's era and he became the chief engraver at the Madrid mint by 1854. He is the same engraver responsible for the beautiful laureate head portraits of Isabel II on coins of the 2nd and 3rd Decimal periods (circa 1854-1868).

The reverse design of the lion and shield likely originated from a rare Isabel II pattern 5 centimos de escudo dated 1865 (only two examples known). The design was not used on the Isabel II coins, but was likely revived and modified for these popular provisional government coins.

The OM in exergue on the reverse stands for Oeschger Mesdach & Co., a private French firm under contract with Spain to strike bronze coinage at Spanish mints beginning in 1865.

Also, the eight-pointed stars on the reverse indicate this coin was struck at the Barcelona mint.

There is so much history in every coin!

Another interesting fact, in order to understand the price of these coins in XF or higher:

Although more than 170 millions were minted, they circulated until Spanish civil war was over. They were officially taken out of circulation in 1941 when new coins were minted....more than 70 years!!

Lovely specimen, Lucky Cuss!

A book I have on the history of Spanish railroads says that the copper from the coins withdrawn and melted down in 1941 was used to make the copper wire for the electrification of the line from Madrid to Avila!