Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 1 Peseta 1944, KM# 767, Spain, Francisco Franco
  • 1 Peseta 1944, KM# 767, Spain, Francisco Franco
Description

Francisco Franco Bahamonde (1892–1975) was a Spanish general who ruled over Spain as a dictator for 36 years from 1939 until his death. Franco proclaimed himself Head of State and Government under the title El Caudillo, a term similar to Il Duce (Italian) for Benito Mussolini and Der Führer (German) for Adolf Hitler. He restored the monarchy before his death, which made King Juan Carlos I his successor, who led the Spanish transition to democracy. After a referendum, a new constitution was adopted, which transformed Spain into a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy.

Obverse

Depicts the name of the country, date and the coat of arms of Spain during Francoism (1938–1945).

The Spanish coat of arms is composed of six other arms: castle of Castile, lion of León, stripes of Aragon, chains of Navarre, pomegranate flower of Granada and fleur-de-lis of the House of Bourbon. The escutcheon represents the currently reigning dynasty Bourbon-Anjou.

Franco adopted in 1938 a variant of the Coat of Arms reinstating some elements originally used by the House of Trastámara such as Saint John's Eagle. The arms are crowned with an open royal crown, placed on an eagle displayed sable, surrounded with the pillars of Hercules, the yoke and the bundle of arrows of the Catholic Monarchs.

Una Grande Libre (Latin meaning "One, Great and Free"), was the Francoist motto which expressed the nationalist concept of Spain.

Plus ultra (Latin meaning "Further beyond") is the national motto of Spain.

ESPAÑA 1944
UNA GRANDE LIBRE
PLVS VLTRA

Reverse

Around the facial value, a pattern displays the symbols of the kingdoms of Granada (a pomegranate), of Aragon (four pallets), of Castile (a castle), of León (a lion) and of Navarre (chains), and the bundle of arrows of the Catholic Monarchs.

1
PESETA

Edge

1 Peseta

KM# 767 Schön# 25
Characteristics
Material Aluminium Bronze
Weight 3.5 g
Diameter 21 mm
Thickness 1.35 mm
Shape round
Alignment Coin

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1st portrait

Aluminium Bronze, 3.5 g, ⌀ 21 mm
2nd portrait

Aluminium Bronze, 3.5 g, ⌀ 21 mm

Aluminium Bronze, 3.6 g, ⌀ 21 mm