Second Republic 5 Centimos

Despite the Spanish Civil War's chaos, the Second Republic's 5 centimos coin was struck using copper planchets that may have been recycled from pre-existing stock, a practical necessity amid shortages. I've handled dozens of these over the years, and they show the wear of a nation in turmoil.

The coin's design is straightforward: a five-pointed star on the obverse, symbolizing the Republic, and the denomination on the reverse. Mintage figures are murky; records from that era were often destroyed or lost. What we know is that production occurred at the Madrid mint, though exact numbers remain uncertain.

For a small copper piece, it's surprisingly resilient. Don't ask me why anyone would collect them—perhaps it's the historical grit, not the shine.