ObverseImage: Wikimedia Commons · Banco Español-Filipino (coin), Don Norris (photo) · Public domain
Alfonso XII 20 Centimos
Spain
1876–1885
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Market Price Range
Based on 20 eBay listings · Prices vary by grade and condition
Estimated Melt Value
$0.06
Based on Copper spot price ($6.07/oz) · 95.0% purity · 5g
Updated 7:39 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | Spain |
| Years Minted | 1876–1885 |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 5 g |
| Diameter | 23 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
Design
Obverse
Portrait of King Alfonso XII facing right.
Reverse
Denomination '20 CENTIMOS' within a wreath.
History & Notable Facts
The Alfonso XII 20 Centimos coins were minted in bronze using an alloy that resisted wear far better than the copper issues from earlier decades.
This made them practical for daily use in a Spain still recovering from civil strife. The obverse shows Alfonso XII's profile, a straightforward design by engraver Luis Calassó, while the reverse features the Spanish coat of arms encircled by the denomination. Production ran from 1876 to 1885, with variations in die types that numismatists debate, though exact figures for some years remain unclear due to incomplete records from the Madrid mint.
If you're handling one, note the edge is plain, which sometimes led to counterfeiting attempts—nothing glamorous, just the facts of commerce. Mintage peaked in the early 1880s, but precise numbers for 1883, for instance, were lost in archival fires.
Some call it underwhelming; I just call it effective.
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