Weekly World Mint Coinage: May 7, 2026

Spain – Real Casa de la Moneda

Next Series Released in Celebration of U.S. Semiquincentennial

Spain’s Real Casa de la Moneda has released their second collection of coins celebrating the 250th anniversary of independence for the United States.

With the 13 colonies uniting against continued British rule and the signing of the historic Declaration of Independence on the 4th July 1776, a significant level of the strategic and military contributions on the battlefield from Spain’s King Carlos III would prove invaluable to the American cause. His alliance with France and kinsman King Louis XVI as well as both their interest in weakening British positions in America were crucial to the eventual victory on the battlefield. Recognised independence was finally achieved in 1783 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in the presence of Benjamin Franklin who signed the document on the 3rd September, ending the revolutionary war and formally creating a new nation.

Coin 1, 10 Euro – 8 Reales. The obverse of this silver Proof coin includes the reproduction of a portrait of General Bernardo de Gálvez painted by Mariano Salvador Maella. Bernardo de Gálvez led the Spanish campaigns in the Mississippi territory, Florida, and the Gulf of Mexico between 1779 and 1781. Above the portrait along the upper rim is the legend 250 ANIVERSARIO DECLARACIÓN DE INDEPENDENCIA DE LOS EE.UU. - 1776. Just above the portrait itself is the text GENERAL BERNARDO DE GÁLVEZ and below the base of de Gálvez’s image is the text ESPAÑA 2026.  The reverse depicts an image of the Battle of Pensacola in 1781 based on an 18th-century engraving. The victory against the British secured control of the Gulf of Mexico. Near the upper rim is the arched inscription BATTALA DE PENSACOLA. The denomination 10 EURO and the Mint of Madrid’s crowned M mintmark is placed just above the battle scene, and along the lower rim is the additional commemorative text REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

Coin 2, 10 Euro – 8 Reales. This obverse design features a reproduced image of an anonymous portrait ofAdmiral Luis de Córdova, commander of the Spanish fleet. De Córdova demonstrated a remarkable composure and strategic intelligence by managing to capture a British convoy formed by more than 50 ships bound for North America. Above the portrait along the upper rim is the legend 250 ANIVERSARIO DECLARACIÓN DE INDEPENDENCIA DE LOS EE.UU. - 1776. Just above the portrait itself is the text ALMIRANTE LUIS DE CÓRDOVA and below the base of de Córdova’s image is the text ESPAÑA 2026. On the reverse, a reproduction of the ship Santísima Trinidad, based on a 19th-century engraving, is featured. Near the upper rim is the arched inscription SANTÍSIMA TRINIDAD. The denomination 10 EURO is shown to the right of the ship and the Mint of Madrid’s crowned M mintmark is placed to the left. Along the lower rim is the additional commemorative text REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

Coin 3, 10 Euro – 8 Reales. The obverse depicts Admiral José Solano y Bote, whose escort of a convoy of 105 ships and 12,500 soldiers to reinforce the troops at the front (1780) was an important event. Above the portrait along the upper rim is the legend 250 ANIVERSARIO DECLARACIÓN DE INDEPENDENCIA DE LOS EE.UU. - 1776. Just above the portrait itself is the text ALMIRANTE JOSÉ SOLANO Y BOTE and below the base of deSolano’s image is the text ESPAÑA 2026. The reverse depicts part of that fleet of 105 tall ships commanded by Admiral Solano. Near the upper rim is the arched inscription FLOTA DE LOS CIEN BARCOS. The denomination 10 EURO is shown to the left of the primary ship and the Mint of Madrid’s crowned M mintmark is placed to the right. Along the lower rim is the additional commemorative text REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

Coin 4, 10 Euro – 8 Reales. The obverse depicts a portrait of Royal Commissioner Francisco de Saavedra y Sangronis, whose greatest achievement was obtaining the necessary funding for the military operation at Yorktown in 1781. Above the portrait along the upper rim is the legend 250 ANIVERSARIO DECLARACIÓN DE INDEPENDENCIA DE LOS EE.UU. - 1776. Just above the portrait itself is the text COMISARIADO REAL F. DE SAAVEDRA Y SANGRONIS and below the base of deSaavedra’s image is the text ESPAÑA 2026. On the reverse is reference in particular to the victory at Yorktown in Virginia. Above the primary design and near the upper rim is the arched inscription BATALLA DE YORKTOWN. The denomination 10 EURO is shown above Washington’s horse and the Mint of Madrid’s crowned M mintmark is placed to the right. Along the lower rim is the additional commemorative text REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

Coin 5 and 6, 10 Euro – 8 Reales / 200 Euro – 4 Escudos. The obverse of both the gold and silver coins will be very familiar to American coin collectors, recreating the original design from the obverse of the famed Isabella Quarter, the first U.S. commemorative coin issued in 1892. It features a side profile bust of Queen Isabella I of Castile, who financed Christopher Columbus’s voyages to the New World. Above the portrait along the upper rim is the legend 250 ANIVERSARIO DECLARACIÓN DE INDEPENDENCIA DE LOS EE.UU. - 1776. Just above the portrait itself is the text ISABEL I DE CASTILLA and below the base of the Queen’s image is the text ESPAÑA 2026. The reverse includes the numismaticeffigies of King Carlos III and President George Washington facing each other. Above the two portraits is the denomination 200 EURO (gold) or 10 EURO (silver). Below the likenesses are the names CARLOS III and WASHINGTON with the Mint of Madrid’s crowned M mintmark is placed near the middle of the two names. Along the lower rim is the additional commemorative text REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

Coin 7, 50 Euro – Cincuentin. The obverse of this large-size silver Proof coin reproduces a colour image of ‘The Thirteen Salutes’ within an ornate decorative base from which two decorative supports emerge on either side. The image is crowned by 13 five-pointed stars representing the colonies that declared independence from Great Britain in 1776. Above the portrait along the upper rim is the legend 250 ANIVERSARIO DECLARACIÓN DE INDEPENDENCIA DE LOS EE.UU. - 1776 and below the decorative base is the text ESPAÑA 2026. The reverse is a collection of portraits within oval frames which surrounds the face value shown as 50 EURO. The portraits depicted are (clockwise) - King Carlos III of Spain, George Washington, Bernardo de Gálvez, José Solano y Bote, Francisco de Saavedra y Sangronis and Luis de Córdova. The design is surrounded by an ornate border and just below the portraits is the text REVOLUTIONARY WAR. The Mint of Madrid’s crowned M mintmark is placed to the right of the King and General Washington.

Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a custom case accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity. The coins in the series issued in 2025 and 2026 may be sold individually or as part of collections. For additional information, please visit the e-webshop of the Real Casa de la Moneda. The range of collector coins is also available in the United States through various official distributors.

Italy - San Marino - Vatican City

Set of Pure Copper Collector Coins Jointly Issued From Three Authorities.

Coordinated together by Italy, San Marino and Vatican City State, the three-coin set is dedicated to the “Canticle of the Creatures” and marks the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. In honour of this shared common spiritual and cultural heritage, each of the three authorities released one of three coins.

Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone (c. 1181 – 1226) was known as Francis of Assisi, a Catholic friar who founded the religious order of the Franciscans. St. Francis is associated with the patronage of animals and the environment and as such it became customary for churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals on his feast day of the 4th October, which would later become World Animal Day. Francis was canonised by Pope Gregory IX on the 16th July 1228.

Also known as Laudes Creaturarum - Praise of the Creatures, the work is a religious poem written by Saint Francis in an Umbrian dialect, which is one of the earliest known literary works in the Italian language. The Canticle has also played a significant role in the development of the Franciscan Order and the broader Christian tradition, inspiring a greater appreciation for the natural world and its connection to the divine.

Each of the coins is produced in copper with an oxidised finish by the Istituto Poligrafico Zecca della Stato (IPZS) at their facilities in Rome on behalf of all three authorities and designed by Marta Bonifacio. The same design appears on each obverse while the reverse sides depict three different sections of the Canticle, offering a multifaceted and complementary narrative of the Franciscan message.

The obverse side depicts a composition featuring a standing St. Francis facing to the left and placed off-centre with three doves against a backdrop of the Umbrian hills and is dressed in his customary friar’s robes. On the left side is the issuing country half, REPUBBLICA ITALIANA or REPUBBLICA DI SAN MARINO or CITTA' DEL VATICANO along with the mintmark R denoting the Mint of Rome. Along the lower right rim is the inscription SAN FRANCESCO D'ASSISI 1226 2026.

The reverse sides depict three different parts of the Canticle, offering a complex and complementary narrative of the Franciscan message. The order of the triptych is Italy, San Marino and Vatican City. A common design element includes the inclusion of the outlined letter T or Tau, centred which is a symbol of salvation for the innocent. Below the letter is the denomination shown as 0,75 EURO.

Italy – Along the lower rim and around the primary design are verses from the poem and astronomical symbols referring to verses devoted to cosmic brotherhood and admiration for the stars.

San Marino – Along the lower rim and around the primary design are verses from the poem and symbols dedicated to the four fundamental elements depicting wind, water, fire and food grown from the soil representing earth.

Vatican City - Verses from the Canticle and a Franciscan call to live in gratitude to God are seen. Leaves and birds in flight symbolise humility, detachment from all pride and the bliss of chosen souls. Featured on either side are two open hands of a saint, raised upwards in a gesture of acceptance of God's will. 

The coins are available only as a set of three, with each coin encapsulated and presented in a custom case accompanied by certificates of authenticity from each authority. For additional information, please visit the e-webshop of Post San Marino, official distributor. 

Portugal - Imprensa Nacional Casa da Moeda

New Gold Proof Collector Coin Series Launched Highlighting Historic Crests

Portugal introduces the annual release of a new flagship coin designed to position modern Portuguese coins among the international benchmarks for numismatic collectibles. This coin is designed as a premium collector's item, highlighting a contemporary interpretation of elements of the country's history and identity. Its first theme or topic of design will be the distinctive Portuguese Coat of Arms which has undergone noticeable evolution along with the history of this Iberian nation.

The first design focuses on the Cross of Christ, inspired by the insignia prevalent on the Military Order of Christ with its origins beginning in 1319. First known as The Knights Templar established in 1119, they were a group of Christian knights from the Middle Ages who took part in the First Crusade in 1096. Their main task was to protect Christian travellers making their way to pilgrimage in Jerusalem. Ultimately Pope Clement V officially ended the Order in 1312, but in 1319, a new Order of Christ was formed. The insignia was restored and which became the Coat of Arms of Portugal, soon to be instantly recognisable throughout the known world as a symbol of sovereignty.

The coins are struck in quarter ounce and one ounce with identical designs shared on both versions. Designed by Baiba Šime, the obverse features a finely detailed depiction of the Cross of Christ, of equal size with flared ends along with ornamental outlines of stylised petals and surrounded in a circle of dots. Above the primary design along the upper rim is the denomination 30 EURO (one ounce) or 8 EURO (quarter ounce) with the year 2026 placed below along the lower rim. On each side is a small rosette. The reverse features the current Crest of the Portuguese Republic. It depicts a shield with five escutcheons or, quinas and seven castles, emphasising ​​historical continuity and the sovereignty of the state. The crest is surrounded by a circle of dots with one small rosette placed near the lower rim. The text REPUBLICA PORTUGUESA is placed along the rim from left to right.

Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a custom hardwood matte polished case accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. The one-ounce Proof coin is only available for sale at the INCM retail shops located in Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto. For additional information, please visit the e-webshop of the Imprensa Nacional Casa da Moeda – INCM.