Without doubt the Alfonso XII 25 pesetas coins are on the list of the most important coins in the history of Spain.
His life started with the coup d’etat on 3 December 1874 by General Pavía which brought about the end of the Republic and the establishment of the “Regency Ministry” by Antonio Cánovas, whose commitment was to re-establish the Bourbon monarchy.
All this effort culminated in the arrival in Spain of the son of Isabel II, who had ascended to the throne three years earlier while in exile.
The birth of the 25 Pesetas gold coins.
With the Bourbons again at the helm, a new period started to strengthen the pesetas after 10 years of being minted only in copper and silver. This in turn saw the rebirth of the process of manufacturing in gold thereby demonstrating the maturity and growth of the new monetary system which over this period exceeded some 30 million coins.
Design of the new gold coins to be put into circulation occurred three months after the arrival of Alfonso XII by means of a Royal Decree.
Seal of Guarantee for this Currency.
There were very few people involved in the design of this coin which propelled the kingdom’s economy for more than a decade. In concrete terms, there were seven experts over this period who were tasked with guaranteeing the quality of the product. Their duties required the printing of their initials on each coin, thereby certifying the process, the exact weight and its authenticity.
The nominated engraver was Gregoria Sellán Gonzalez who saw his work live on in the design of the coins of Alfonso XII and in the first two struck by his son Alfonso XIII.
The seals on these coins are the following:
Engraver: G.S. Gregoria Sellán Gonzalez
Assayers and Weigh Masters:
DE M: Eduardo Diaz Pimienta, Julio Escosura Tablares and Ángel Mendoza Ordoñez
EM M: Julio Escosura Tablares, Mauricio Morejón Bueno and Ángel Mendoza Ordoñez
MS M: Mauricio Morejón Bueno, Pablo Salas Gabarrell and Ángel Mendoza Ordoñez
MP M: Mauricio Morejón Bueno, Félix Miguel Peiró Rodgrigo and Ángel Mendoza Ordoñez
Coins from 1876
25 Spanish Pesetas gold Alfonso XII Young Head.
Gold: Ley 900 milesimas
Diameter: 24,09 mm
Weight: 8.08 gr.
Striated edge
Description
| Obverse: ALFONSO XII – POR LA G. DE DIOS 1876/76 (between stars with six points). Head facing right. G.S. (Gregoria Sellán) shown at the bottom of the neck. Pointed fringe. |
| Reverse: REY CONSTL-DE ESPAÑA D.E. 25 PESETAS. Crowned, draped arms in the collar of the golden fleece and covered under the Royal cloak with the arms of Castilla, León, Aragón, Navarra and Granada; in the centre the Bourbon coat of arms. Pointed fringe. (Information extracted from Book: Gold Coins from the Collection of the Bank of Spain). |
| NÚMERO | BC/CMB | EBC | SC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | 25 Pesetas 1876 *18*76 Madrid DE M. | 1.281.374 | 250 € | 300 € | 400 € |
| R1 | 25 Pesetas 1877 *18*77 Madrid DE M. | 10.047.885 | 200 € | 250 € | 340 € |
| R1 | 25 Pesetas 1878 *18*78 Madrid DE M. | 5.192.442 | 230 € | 270 € | 420 € |
| R1 | 25 Pesetas 1878 *18*78 Madrid EM M. | 3.000.000 | 220 € | 300 € | 500 € |
| R1 | 25 Pesetas 1879 *18*79 Madrid EM M. | 3.447.644 | 230 € | 280 € | 1.200 € |
| R1 | 25 Pesetas 1880 *18*80 Madrid MS M. | 6.862.947 | 180 € | 250 € | 350 € |
| R4 | 25 Pesetas 1881 *18*81 Madrid. MS M | Sin datos | 18.000 € | 24.000 € | 60.000 € |
25 Spanish Pesetas gold Alfonso XII old Head.
Year: 1881
Gold: Ley 900 milesimas
Diameter: 24.11 mm
Weight: 8.07 gr
Striated edge
In 1881, it was decreed that the king’s image be updated and the result of this shows a great difference compared to the initial one from 1876. Such differences were not so noticeable in the mints from 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879 and 1880 where only slight changes can be seen to the head and features of Alfonso XII.
| Obverse: ALFONSO XII – POR LA G. DE DIOS 1881/81 (between stars with six points. Head facing right. G.S. (Gregoria Sellán) shown at the bottom of the neck. Pointed fringe. |
| Reverse: REY CONSTL-DE ESPAÑA D.E. 25 PESETAS. Crowned, drapped arms in the collar of the golden fleece and covered under the Royal cloak with the arms of Castilla, León, Aragón, Navarra and Granada; in the centre the Bourbon coat of arms. Pointed fringe. (Information extracted from Book: Gold Coins from the Collection of the Bank of Spain). |
| Rarity | 25 Pesetas | VOLUMEN | CMB | EBC | SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | 25 Pesetas 1882 *18*82 Madrid MS M. | 4,266,234 | 200 € | 260 € | 330 € |
| R2 | 25 Pesetas 1882 *18*82 Madrid MS M. | 413.741 | 690 € | 1.300 € | 1.800 € |
| R3 | 25 Pesetas 1883 *18*83 Madrid MS M. | 668.855 | 520 € | 990 € | 1.400 € |
| R1 | 25 Pesetas 1884 *18*84 Madrid MS M. | 1.032.744 | 360 € | 540 € | 720 € |
| R2 | 25 Pesetas 1885 *18*85 Madrid MS M. | 502.613 | 720 € | 1.800 € | 3.600 € |
| R3 | 25 Pesetas 1885 *18*86 Madrid MS M. | 491.143 | 3.600 € | 9.000 € | 22.000 € |
The manufacturing of these coins started in 1876, with the King’s image being reversed in order to distinguish them from the copper and silver coins. In 1962 a special commission was made by an American company based in Switzerland who made a prepayment both for the stipulated costs and the profits. Original stamps were used with the print date of 1961 and 1962 appearing between the stars.
On the edge of the coins there is an engraving of 27 lily flowers comprised of three groups of nine each.
For the manufacturing proofs and quality check on the engravings, copper coins were used which were subsequently destroyed to avoid them being put into circulation after being gold plated.
After his death, all the coins (with the exception of the 2 pesetas) continued to be minted upon the order of his wife, Maria Cristina of Habsburg, until 1886 when his son Alfonse XIII was born and a year later Sellán made the first design with the image of the successor and thereby resumed the task of manufacturing the coins, a period which saw the issuing of the 20 and 100 pesetas coins.
Is the 25 pesetas a good coin to buy?
We should recall that the premium is the difference between the price of the precious metal from which the coin is made and its market price, and that its value depends on many factors which we have explained in our article: “The Premium on Gold Coins”.
It is a type of coin destined to be saved in the future given its good condition and quality.
The 25 pesetas coin is one of the most popular in the catalogue of gold coins which are currently in circulation in Spain, and which are also in demand from individuals from other countries who are interested in its historical and financial value. Given that it is one of the most known, its premium can increase considerably in times of crisis, thus acquiring values which are attractive and well-positioned in the world of offer and supply, which happened with the Napoleon in France, for example, and which can reach a premium of 100% during times of crisis.