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Argentina, Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and Peru will share the spotlight with Spain and Portugal in the 14th Ibero-American Series of collectible coins in 2026. The new edition will be dedicated to "Ibero-American Heritage," a theme that opens the door to monuments, landscapes, and traditions with which each country tells its own story.
Portugal is already allowing images to be placed on this new coin: its coin depicts the Águas Livres aqueduct in Lisbon. Spain, for its part, has confirmed a coin dedicated to the Toledo Cathedral. These are two previews of a collection whose appeal will also lie in discovering which heritage sites the seven participating Latin American countries will choose.
Portuguese coin from the XIV Ibero-American Series of 2026, dedicated to the Águas Livres aqueduct. Official images: Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda (INCM).
Ibero-American Heritage: a topic that goes beyond monuments
The 2026 edition proposes to consider both the heritage preserved in buildings and places and that transmitted through customs and cultural expressions. This breadth allows the different coins to engage in dialogue with each other without requiring all countries to choose the same type of motif.
For the collector, the appeal lies in that combination: recognizing a familiar symbol on their country's currency and discovering, alongside it, other places and stories from Latin America. A collection that can begin with a single piece and spark curiosity for the others.
Nine participating countries, with seven Latin American voices
The list published in the Spanish Official Gazette (BOE) on October 17 includes the nine countries mentioned. In contrast to the 2024 edition, dedicated to Ibero-American capitals and comprising eight countries, the 2026 edition includes Bolivia and the Dominican Republic, while Ecuador is not included. The composition of the series changes from one edition to the next.
Furthermore, there is a detail that makes this collaboration visible: the heraldic side features the issuing country's coat of arms in the center, surrounded by those of the participating countries. Thus, the symbols of Argentina, Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and Peru are also present on the Portuguese coin.
The Portuguese obverse shows the coats of arms of the nine countries participating in 2026. Official image: INCM.
Portugal: the Águas Livres aqueduct turned into currency
The Portuguese choice leads to an 18th-century engineering work, promoted by King John V. Nuno Caetano 's design showcases the Alcântara section, where the succession of large arches transforms the infrastructure into a recognizable image of the Lisbon landscape.
The aqueduct represents a particularly close way of understanding heritage: a construction born to meet a daily need that, over time, also becomes a symbol of the city.
Obverse: Portugal and the coats of arms of the participants
In the center appears the Portuguese coat of arms on the armillary sphere, accompanied by the legend "PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC", the year 2026 and the face value of 7.5 euros. The outer area displays the coats of arms of the countries included in this edition, following the shared visual identity of the collection.
Reverse: a perspective of the Alcântara arcades
The monument occupies most of the field, viewed in perspective to emphasize the height of the pillars and the depth of the arcades. It is accompanied by the inscriptions "AQUEDUTO DAS ÁGUAS LIVRES" and "XIV SÉRIE IBERO-AMERICANA," along with the identification of the Casa da Moeda (Mint House) and the artist. The official image of the silver version shows warm tones in the depiction of the stone.
The arcades of the Alcântara section are featured on the reverse side, designed by Nuno Caetano. Official image: INCM.
Portugal is considering two versions of the €7.50 coin: one in cupronickel with a standard finish and the other in 925 sterling silver in Proof quality with colored flecks. The Bank of Portugal has set October 15, 2026, as the issue date for both coins.
The coin had been scheduled for release in July. The Mint explained the postponement as being due to ongoing negotiations in some participating countries, an example of the coordination required for an issue in which all countries must represent their respective coats of arms.
Spain: Toledo Cathedral on a 5 euro silver coin
The Spanish contribution will feature Toledo Cathedral. The choice coincides with a significant year for the cathedral: 2026 marks eight centuries since its construction began in 1226. The monument thus provides a link between the series' heritage theme and an anniversary that the cathedral itself is celebrating this year.
Obverse. It will bear the coat of arms of Spain, the legend "FELIPE VI KING OF SPAIN", the year 2026 and the coats of arms of the participating countries.
Reverse. It will combine a color image of the cathedral with a detail of the rose window on its west facade. Within another four-lobed motif will appear the 5 euro face value and the mint mark. The legends will identify the XIV Ibero-American Series and the cathedral.
The order authorizes a maximum of 4,000 copies and sets the start of the issue in the last quarter of 2026. In the sources consulted, we have not yet located the official Spanish image.
Confirmed features of Portugal and Spain
Feature Portugal: Silver Portugal: cupronickel Spain: Silver Facial 7.50 euros 7.50 euros 5 euros
Metal 925 Silver Cupronickel 75/25 925 Silver
Finish Proof Normal Proof
Weight 13.50 g 18.50 g 13.50 g
Diameter 33 mm 33 mm 33 mm
Maximum emission 5,000 30,000 4,000
This data pertains to Portuguese and Spanish issues. The face values, mintages, metals, and dates of Latin American coins are not yet known.
Argentina, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Peru: seven countries to follow
The participation of these seven countries is listed in the 2026 list, but their reasons for this edition are still unknown. Their history helps explain why their upcoming currencies are worth monitoring.
Argentina: from the Women's Bridge to a new heritage choice
The series already has a recognizable history for Argentine collectors. In 2024, Buenos Aires was represented by the Puente de la Mujer (Women's Bridge) in Puerto Madero, with a 25-peso coin. Its design combines contemporary architecture with the image of a couple dancing the tango. The 2026 issue opens a new chapter after that piece, which we already featured in Visual Numismatics.
Bolivia: a link with Potosí and the history of silver
Bolivia has a particularly significant precedent: its coin from the first Ibero-American Series depicted the Cerro Rico of Potosí against a rising sun. The Central Bank of Bolivia retains this reference in its overview of the country's monetary history. Its inclusion in the 2026 list connects the new edition with one of the places most closely linked to the history of silver in the Americas.
Dominican Republic: Caribbean presence in the 2026 edition
The Dominican Republic is among the participants in this edition, although it was not part of the list of eight countries in 2024. This change adds interest for Dominican collectors and a Caribbean presence to the collection. The next piece of information that will reveal its contribution will be the chosen motif; for now, its inclusion on the list does not allow us to anticipate a specific monument, tradition, or design.
Guatemala: the antecedent of the Arch of Santa Catalina
Guatemala participated in the previous edition with the Santa Catalina Arch in Antigua Guatemala. That selection brought to the collection an image closely associated with the city. For those who assembled that piece, the 2026 edition offers the opportunity to continue a sequence of Guatemalan symbols within an international project, whose heritage theme now allows for a broader selection than the one focused on capital cities in 2024.
Nicaragua: continuity after the Managua currency
The Salvador Allende Port in Managua was Nicaragua's featured motif for 2024. The Central Bank of Nicaragua featured it on a 10-córdoba silver coin, depicting this infrastructure located next to Lake Xolotlán. This precedent, which we discussed in an article in Visual Numismatics, demonstrates how the series can also incorporate contemporary urban landmarks alongside historical monuments.
Paraguay: a documented accession since 2025
Paraguay has provided its own confirmation: the Central Bank informed the series coordinators of its participation, approved on May 13, 2025. The document does not reveal the design of the 2026 coin, but it does confirm the institutional readiness for this participation. In the 2024 edition, the country was represented by the Nanawa Bridge in Concepción, a landmark that brought international recognition to that city.
Peru: thirteen editions that form a collection within the collection
The Central Reserve Bank of Peru has documented the Peruvian coins of the first thirteen issues, between 1992 and 2024. The most recent issue featured the allegory of Fame and the Lima Cathedral. For Peruvian collectors, this 14th edition extends a tradition that allows them to trace the evolution of national themes and designs over more than three decades.
The complete FNMT case: one option to collect the entire series
YEAR 2024 XIII IBERO-AMERICAN SERIES “CAPITALS”
In previous editions, the FNMT-Real Casa de la Moneda (Royal Mint) has sold gift sets in Spain containing the complete Ibero-American Series. This was the case in 2017 and 2020, and also in 2024, when the set included all eight coins from the participating countries and a commemorative medal, all made of silver. This presentation allows customers to purchase the entire set in a single transaction.
For those who want to collect all the 2026 coins, it's worth keeping an eye out for the announcement of the complete collection by the FNMT (Spanish Royal Mint). If they maintain this format, it could be an easy way to acquire the coins from different countries.
A collection that can be followed from every country
The program was launched in 1991 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the encounter between Iberian and American cultures. Since then, its various installments have explored topics such as wildlife, dance, architecture, sports, railways, and natural wonders. The 2026 Heritage program joins this series of perspectives on Ibero-America.
Anyone approaching the series now can start with the coins of their own country and compare them with those of the same series. The arrangement of the coats of arms allows one to recognize the family; the main motif shows the choice that distinguishes each issuer. The 2024 Ibero-American Series XIII is a useful reference for understanding this process before the 2026 designs are fully presented.
The reasons for the seven Latin American contributions, their images, and the terms of their respective issues remain to be revealed. Portugal has already provided a visual preview, and Spain has defined its Toledo coin. Upcoming announcements will allow us to complete the map of this Ibero-American heritage in coins.
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