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The 1871(71) 5-peseta coin minted in Madrid has a mintage of 13,641,162. It is 37mm in diameter with a silver fineness of .900 weighing 25 grams. The obverse initials L.M. on the bottom edge of Amadeo I’s bust refers to engraver Luis Marchionni. The initials S.D. along the lower left rim on the reverse refer to mint assayers Donato Álvarez Santullano and Eduardo Díaz Pimienta. The initial .M. along the lower right rim of the reverse represents balance judge Ángel Mendoza Ordóñez. Like the1870(70) 5-pesetas coin, this coin also has an edge inscription. The inscription on this coin translates to “JUSTICE AND LIBERTY” delimited by six, six-pointed stars.
When the Spanish Provisional Government took over in 1868, Francisco Serrano, 1st Duke of la Torre became Regent of Spain. Initially rejecting a republican form of government, the Cortes Generales (Spain’s parliament) sought to appoint another monarch to the throne. Interestingly, the Cortes bypassed the Carlist pretender to the throne, Carlos VII. With the support of Spanish Prime Minister Juan Prim, the Cortes on November 16, 1870, elected Amadeo I to become Spain’s only king from the Italian House of Savoy. Reluctantly, Amadeo I accepted and was sworn in on January 2, 1871.
Almost immediately upon Amadeo I’s coronation there was trouble. The man who championed Amadeo I’s selection as king was assassinated upon his arrival in Spain. There were separatist uprisings in Cuba, political wrangling’s at home, republicanism, Carlists insurgencies, and an assassination attempt on Amadeo I and his wife. In the end, I believe that Amadeo I did his level best to govern but realistically he had stepped into a hornet's nest. Without public support for his reign Amadeo I abdicated on 11 February 1873 angrily declaring that Spain was ungovernable. Without delay, the First Republic came to power with Estanislao Figueras as its first president.
Interestingly, the only circulating coin featuring Amadeo I’s bust is the 5-pesetas coin. The coat of arms on the reverse features a royal or imperial crown over the arms. The arms representing the five kingdoms of Spain have a Savoy Cross over the arms in the middle and represents the Spanish monarchy from the House of Savoy. The obverse legend reads, “AMADEO I REY DE ESPAÑA.” Translated it reads, “AMADEO I KING OF SPAIN.”