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Message:: [QUOTE="chrisild, post: 1334428, member: 39"]Actually I am not quite sure what the official terminology is or was. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> It's just that many older Spanish coins have that "dual" system. This way it was easier for the mint; I believe that changing the "regular" (authorization) date would have required a new or adapted law. So with Spanish coins that are older than 30 years, you will often have an easily recognizable date "n", and tiny production dates (n+1, n+2, etc.). Deciphering those can be a pain in the derrière indeed, especially because, as you wrote, the grade of such older coins may make it impossible to determine the "actual" date. Why is the word "actual" in inverted commas? Well, your Amadeo I coin is a fine example: It is dated 1871 and can, in the stars, have the year 18|71, 18|73, 18|74 or 18|75. You may ask, no 18|72? No, in 1872 and during much of 1873, the mint simply continued using the 18|71 production date. Ah well, modern Spanish coins do not use the "dual date" system any more. Have a safe trip back home, and all the best for the new year! Christian[/QUOTE]