2008 Spain €10 Silver Proof "Battle of Bailén"

• Mint: Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre-Real Casa de la Moneda
• Denomination: 10
• Quality: Proof
• Issue limit: 12,000 pcs.
• Alloy: 92.5% Sterling Silver
• Diameter: 40 mm
• Weight: 27 grams
• Box/Capsule: Yes/Yes
• Certificate: Yes

2008 marks the 200th anniversary of the Spanish War of Independence.

In 1793, Spain went to war against the new French Republic, which had overthrown and executed its Bourbon king, Louis XVI. Defeated in the field, Spain made peace with France in 1795 and effectively became a client state of that country; the following year, it declared war against Britain and Portugal. A disastrous economic situation, along with other factors, led to the abdication of the Spanish king in favor of Napoleon's brother, Joseph Bonaparte, who quickly became regarded with scorn as a foreign monarch.

On May 2, 1808, the people of Madrid began a popular and nationalist uprising against the French army, marking the beginning of what is known as the Spanish War of Independence. Napoleon was forced to intervene personally, defeating several badly-coordinated Spanish armies and forcing a British Army to retreat to Coruña. However, further military action by Spanish guerrillas and Wellington's Anglo-Portuguese army, combined with Napoleon's disastrous invasion of Russia, led to the ousting of the French from Spain in 1814, and the return of King Ferdinand VII.

This coin is dedicated to the Battle of Bailén between July 18-22, 1808, where Spanish forces, led by General Castaños, surrounded the French and compelled General Dupont to surrender almost 18,000 men.

The obverse is a reproduction of the painting "The Surrender at Bailén" by José Casado del Alisal, while the reverse shows a portrait of General Castaños.

Additional Information

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