Owner Comments:
Gary’s September Coin of the Month (Volume 3, Number 1) is a modified continuation of August’s column using an NGC XF-40 Spanish Provisional Government 1870 OM, 10 centimos (KM# 663) instead of the two pesetas.
The Spanish Provisional Government copper 10 centimos is 30 mm in diameter and weighs 10 grams. With a mintage of 170,088,104, one might think that this coin is readily available in MS condition. Yet NGCs highest grading coin is an MS-65 with a population of just two coins. Recently in 2013, Heritage Auctions sold a MS-65 for $340.75. The apparent rarity of MS coins seems to imply that nearly all the Spanish Provisional Government 10 centimos circulated.
This coins engraver is L. Marchionni and his first initial and last name are directly underneath the main device on the coins obverse. The main device features a right facing Hispania encircled by dots and seated on the Pyrenees Mountains as on a throne. Outside the inner rim dots in the obverse legend is the weight of the coin at 10 grams and the date 1870.
In the unsettling times after Spain’s Glorious Revolution of 1868, it was especially important for the people to have confidence in their currency. Therefore, the initials OM underneath the rampant lion on this coins reverse represents the assayer, Oeschger Mesdach & Co. The weight of the 10 centimos coin appears in the reverse legend as a ratio. Thus, the phrase “CIEN PIEZAS EN KILOG.” is properly translated 100 pieces in a kilogram and represents the weight of the copper 10 centimos coin at 10 grams (1000 grams/100 pieces). The two “eight-pointed” stars represent that the 10 centimos coin was minted in Barcelona.
The Spanish Provisional Government monetary system had a simple system of graduated weights for their silver and copper coins directly proportional to the coins value. In other words, the 10 centimos coin weighs twice as much as the 5 centimos coin that weighs 5 grams.
Once a dominate world power, Spain’s influence around the world and in Europe had already begun to decline by the beginning of the 19th Century. Napoleons occupation of Spain early in the century led to a fierce war for independence by Spain’s nationalists. Seizing on the opportunity presented by Spain’s troubles at home, many of Spain’s new world colonies declared their own independence.
After the death of King Ferdinand VII in 1833, Queen Isabella II’s uncle, Infante Carlos, challenged her succession to the throne. This led to the First Carlist War (1833-39) between the followers of Carlos and those loyal to Maria Christina serving as Isabella IIs regent. In the end, the loyalty of Spain’s army to Maria Christina and Isabella II proved decisive in Isabella II remaining on the throne.
By the middle of the century, there had already been a number of civil wars in the political struggle for control of Spain. When Isabella II came of age and began to govern her capriciousness and ineptitude made her unpopular as a sovereign. This in turn led to The Glorious Revolution of 1868 and Isabella’s removal from the throne. Two years of anarchy followed before the appointment of Italian Prince Amadeo of Savoy to the throne in 1870.
Amidst this political instability and national glum, Spain needed the proverbial shot in the arm to give her hope. Therefore, I believe the design features of this coin do just that.
The obverse of the Spanish Provisional Government 10 centimos features Spain’s national personification Hispania seated on the Pyrenees Mountains with her feet towards the Mediterranean Sea represented by a lighthouse. Hispania appears holding an olive branch in her right hand while outstretching her left arm down towards the sea. This represents sovereignty and peace over all the land. The key to this coin’s allegory in 1870 was that the sovereignty of Spain resided with the people as represented by Hispania, rather than a monarch.
The reverse of this coin features a rampant lion with his front paws resting on a shield reminiscent of Spain’s ancient kingdoms. The top left quarter of the shield represents the Kingdom of Castile, the top right Leon, the bottom left Aragon, the bottom right Navarre, and the pomegranate at the bottom, the Kingdom of Granada. The lion represents royalty, bravery, strength, and power as he looks over his shoulder in a manner that indicates he is defending Spain against her enemies, thus signifying security.
Unfortunately, it took some time for the symbolism of this coin to become reality. In 1873 Amadeo I abdicated from the throne after asserting that Spain was ungovernable. The First Republic of Spain followed this government and lasted only 23 months. Finally, in a bit of irony, the House of Bourbon returned to the throne in the person of Isabella’s son Alfonso XII on December 30, 1874. During Alfonso’s reign, Spain finally entered into a period of peace and prosperity towards the end of the 19th century.
In summary, the imagery on coins has the power to move and inspire people by reminding them through daily commerce of their national pride and heritage. This power as I have discussed before can be used as a propaganda tool to suppress the people or to instill a sense of hope for the future.