Juan Carlos I 25 Pesetas

This 25 pesetas coin was the first Spanish currency to feature Juan Carlos I's portrait after Franco's death, signaling a hasty shift to constitutional monarchy.

Aluminum planchets were chosen for their lightness and low cost, a practical decision amid Spain's economic woes in the mid-1970s. The obverse showed the king's profile, while the reverse depicted the national coat of arms, a design that varied slightly over the years. Mintage figures are spotty; records from the Madrid mint during that period aren't fully reliable.

One version had a reeded edge, which helped deter counterfeits in an era when forgery was as common as bad wine.

If you're collecting these, note that the 1982 issue might show wear from heavy circulation, but that's just the coin's way of telling its story.