Alfonso XIII 20 Centimos

Struck in bronze to replace the quickly wearing copper coins of previous decades, this 20 Centimos piece circulated widely through Spain's early 20th-century upheavals.

The obverse bears a portrait of King Alfonso XIII, often depicted as a young man despite his reign starting in infancy. The reverse features the Spanish coat of arms, simple and functional. Variations exist, like different edge reeding, but details on those are sparse; records from the Madrid mint weren't always meticulous.

I've handled hundreds of these over the years. They're common enough that finding one in a dealer's tray feels like bumping into an old acquaintance. As for myths about their rarity, let's just say I've debunked enough to fill a coin album.