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Few Spanish 2026 issues have the capacity to generate interest far beyond the world of collectors. This is undoubtedly one of them.
The Spanish Royal Mint (Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre-Real Casa de la Moneda) has released a detailed look at the nine official coins dedicated to Francisco Ibáñez to commemorate the 90th anniversary of his birth. Mortadelo, Filemón, Professor Bacterio, Rompetechos, Ofelia, Pepe Gotera, Otilio, Superintendent Vicente, and Botones Sacarino appear in color in a collection that will bring the Spanish cartoonist's universe to life on coinage.
The release is scheduled for early October 2026, with a maximum print run of 10,000 units per design. Each piece will be presented on a coin card created specifically for its character. Given its potential appeal, it's expected to be one of the most sought-after Spanish collections of the year: anyone wanting to collect the entire set would be wise not to wait until the last minute.
Nine characters and a completely new presentation
The big news now revealed isn't just about the coins. The FNMT has prepared a special coincard for each one, with a color and graphic design associated with the corresponding character.
The front of each card features the reverse of the coin and a larger reproduction of the main character. The back shows the common obverse, along with the barcode, the maximum mintage, and a space for the card number.
In this way, each coin functions as an independent piece, but all nine maintain a common visual identity. It's not simply a matter of placing the characters on the metal: the entire presentation has been conceived using the graphic language of Ibáñez's comic strips.
This is the complete collection of Francisco Ibáñez
Mortadelo
Mortadelo opens the series wearing the black frock coat that is part of his most recognizable image. The reverse side shows him in color and maintains the collection's common graphic style: action lines, a panel burst, the character's logo, the mint mark, and the face value of 1.5 euros.
Philemon
Filemón retains his usual attire and the expression of someone who knows the mission will once again end in the worst possible way. His coin is a natural pairing with Mortadelo's, although it has its own reverse side and coincard.
Professor Bacterio
Professor Bacterio represents the most unpredictable side of the TIA. The green coincard presents him in action alongside one of his unmistakable experiments, whose effectiveness almost always ends up suffering Mortadelo or Filemón.
The Super
Superintendent Vicente, the Super, appears with the authoritarian air that usually precedes a new mission. Blue dominates both the back of his card and his business card, clearly distinguishing him from the rest of the TIA members.
Ophelia
Ofelia completes the TIA representation with one of the most vibrant presentations in the collection. The yellow of the coincard and the red of her outfit particularly enhance the color effect.
Roofbreakers
The collection departs from the TIA universe with Rompetechos, created in 1964 and recognized by Francisco Ibáñez himself as his favorite character. His proverbial lack of vision and the misunderstandings he caused made the little protagonist one of the essential names in his work.
Pepe Gotera
Pepe Gotera embodies the foreman of the unforgettable "home repair jobs." His piece maintains the connection with Otilio, but features a full reverse side and its own red coincard.
Otilio
Otilio receives the other coin dedicated to the couple created by Ibáñez in 1966. The Pepe Gotera worker appears on a blue card, with his unmistakable work uniform and ready to turn any repair into a new disaster.
The Bellboy Sacarino
Sacarino the Bellboy, created in 1963, brings Ibáñez's humor to a newsroom where any errand could end in disaster. The character also has a personal connection to his creator: before dedicating himself entirely to drawing, Ibáñez himself worked as a bellboy in a bank.
Coincard images: FNMT-RCM.
Francisco Ibáñez appears on all nine coins
Although the characters appear on the reverses, Francisco Ibáñez himself lends unity to the entire collection through the common obverse. This side features a self-portrait of the cartoonist, accompanied at the top by his well-known signature. To the right, within a speech bubble typical of comic book language, are the words ESPAÑA (Spain) and the year of minting, 2026.
The obverse is the same on all nine coins, although the outer color of the coincard changes with each character. The reverses maintain a common graphic structure, but the colored figure and the placement of some elements are adapted to each protagonist.
There will be a folder to keep the collection together.
In addition to the individual coincards, the complete collection is planned to be available in a folder or album dedicated to Francisco Ibáñez. The current design features a large-format presentation, with an illustration of the author on the cover and space inside for all nine pieces.
The image released months ago was explicitly identified as a "provisional sketch." Therefore, the accompanying image is an editorial recreation based on that sketch and the previously released coin cards; it is not an official photograph from the final album.
Editorial rendering of the album's possible appearance. This is not an official image of the final product. Composition: Visual Numismatics.
They are official coins, but they are not intended for circulation.
The nine pieces have a face value of €1.50, but they should not be confused with the euro coins we normally use or with a commemorative €2 issue. They are official collector coins, minted by the FNMT-RCM and not intended for ordinary circulation.
These are not solid silver coins either. Their core contains a minimum of 99% copper and is coated with 999 fine silver. Each piece weighs 25.8 grams, measures 38.75 millimeters in diameter, and has a circular shape and a smooth edge.
A print run that may fall short
Anyone who knows they want the complete collection shouldn't wait too long.
The maximum authorized mintage is 10,000 units of each design, meaning that only a maximum of 10,000 complete collections could be formed. It is expected that the offering will focus on sets of all nine coins, rather than the sale of individual pieces, and these will have to be distributed among various distributors and both the national and international markets. This international interest would not be surprising: the work of Francisco Ibáñez, especially Mortadelo and Filemón, also has numerous readers in countries such as Germany—where the duo achieved enormous popularity as Clever & Smart —France, Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands, and Brazil. If we add to this audience numismatists, comic book collectors, and several generations of Spanish readers, there are objective reasons to anticipate high demand, although it cannot yet be guaranteed that the issue will sell out.
The combination of a limited mintage, exceptionally popular figures, and a presentation designed as a complete collection sets this issue apart from most Spanish collector coins. The pre-sales open before the release are another sign of the interest it is generating.
Issue date and price
The expected issue date is during the first days of October 2026. The initial price set for each coin is €23.97 excluding VAT, equivalent to €29 including VAT. Therefore, the reference price for the nine coins amounts to €261, although distributors may apply their own discounts or commercial terms.
Emission Characters by Francisco Ibáñez
Country and year Spain, 2026
Reason 90th anniversary of the birth of Francisco Ibáñez
Number of coins 9
Face value €1.50 each; €13.50 for the set
Composition Copper, minimum 99%, coated with 999 thousandths silver
Weight 25.8 g, with a tolerance of ±0.77 g
Diameter 38.75 mm
Form and song Circular, smooth edge
Maximum print run 10,000 units of each design
Presentation Individual coincard ; folder or album for the complete collection
Expected date October 2026
Starting price €29 per coin including VAT; €261 for all nine
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