Released 7/10/2000

1883 5 pesetas (duro) Spain The obverse shows the profile of Alfonso XII (1857-1885), king of Spain (1874-1885), with the legend "ALFONSO XII POR LA GRACIA DE DIOS", (Alfonso XII by the Grace of God"). The reverse has the Spanish coat of arms and the message "REY CONSTITUCIONAL DE ESPAŅA", (Constitutional King of Spain). The coat of arms represents the "united kingdom" made up of the historical kingdoms of Castile, Leon, Aragon, Navarre and Granada. The Pillars (or Columns) of Hercules, which stand at the sides of the Spanish coat-of-arms, represent the two sides of the Gibraltar Strait. In the center there is the  fleur-de-lis of the Bourbon family, which represent their ties to the Kingdom of France. Since the 15th century the word peseta was used to refer to two reales, but it was not until 1808 in Barcelona that the first piece with the peseta denomination was struck. Finally, under the influence of the Latin Monetary Union, in 1865 the Spanish monetary unit was officially declared to be the silver peseta, divided in 100 cents.