Spain · Double portrait Felipe VI - Juan Carlos

Juan Carlos I was proclaimed king in 1975, following the death of the dictator Francisco Franco. Franco had already designated him in 1969 as the future head of state. During Spain’s subsequent transformation from a dictatorship into a parliamentary democracy, Juan Carlos supported the political reforms. With the Constitution of 1978, Spain became a parliamentary monarchy. Since then, the king has been head of state, while political leadership lies with the elected government.

Juan Carlos received particular attention during the failed military coup of 23 February 1981. In a televised address, he stood up as commander-in-chief of the armed forces for the constitutional order. In later years, the reputation of the monarchy was damaged, among other things, by public controversies surrounding the royal family and investigations into his son-in-law. On 2 June 2014, Juan Carlos announced his abdication. He cited the need for a generational change and new forces for the tasks ahead as reasons.

The Spanish Constitution contains no detailed provision governing the procedure for an abdication. It does, however, stipulate that abdications and doubts concerning the succession to the throne must be regulated by an organic law. Both chambers of Parliament therefore had to pass a corresponding law. With its entry into force, the reign of Juan Carlos ended.

Felipe VI, born in 1968, is the son of Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía. As crown prince, he held the title Prince of Asturias and was prepared for his future role as head of state. Following his father’s abdication, he was proclaimed king before the Cortes Generales, the two chambers of the Spanish Parliament. Unlike a coronation, this proclamation forms part of the constitutional assumption of office.

The coin issue thus documented a rare state event: the first change at the head of the Spanish monarchy since the entry into force of the Constitution of 1978. The joint depiction of the former and the new king refers to the constitutional and dynastic continuity of the office of head of state.