1945 Spanish Nationalist Government "Cavalry" 10 Céntimos Aluminum Coin Coin Story: This 1945 Spanish 10 Céntimos aluminum coin issued under General Francisco Franco’s Nationalist government, is a quintessential low-denomination subsidiary coin from the post-WWII monetary transition period. Following the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1939, Franco established a authoritarian regime. By 1945, coinciding with the end of WWII, Spain faced severe international isolation and critical material shortages. To reshape national identity and manage resource scarcity, the Francoist state completely discarded the coinage designs of the Second Republic. Due to acute wartime and post-war shortages of strategic industrial metals like copper and nickel, the mint utilized lightweight, low-cost, and abundant aluminum for minor denominations. Hightlights: 1. The obverse revives 2nd-century BCE Iberian coinage (e.g., ancient Segovia issues), serving as a rare bridge between pre-Roman antiquity and 20th-century political propaganda. 2. Struck in ultra-lightweight aluminum (~1.8g) due to post-WWII trade embargoes, it stands as a tangible artifact of mid-century European metal scarcity. 3. Because soft aluminum degrades easily and crude wartime striking left weak details, certified MS63 examples with full luster and crisp spearhead details carry a strong condition premium.