Spain Francisco Franco 50 Pesetas

History

50 Pesetas 1958-1975, KM# 788, Spain, Francisco Franco

Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com

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	Person (politician, revolutionary, entrepreneur) Francisco Franco Portrait in right profile of Francisco Franco. FRANCISCO FRANCO CAUDILLO DE ESPAÑA POR LA G.DE DIOS 1957
Reverse	Animal (fish, bird, mammal etc.) Eagle, Lion Coat of arms Spain Coat of arms of Spain with the Francoist eagle. Particular year is inside of the star. 1957 BA issued to commemorate the 1958 2nd Ibero-American Numismatic Exposition in Barcelona with BA replacing the star on left side of the reverse. 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. UNA GRANDE LIBRE 50 PTAS PLUS ULTRA 59
Edge	Inscribed (lettered) UNA * * GRANDE * * LIBRE * *