Spain has minted gold and silver coins to commemorate the Year of Spain in China and will issue them on July 2, Spanish monetary authorities said Thursday.

The National Mint and Stamp Factory and the Royal House of Coins said the gold coin would have a 20-euro (26-U.S. dollar) face value and carry the Spanish constitution shield on one side, with 2007 below the shield.

On the other side, the coin has two hemispheres under a crown flanked by the columns of Hercules, with the legend "Plus Ultra" underneath floating on waves.

The 10-euro (13-U.S. dollar) silver coin has images of the royal couple, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia.

The other side is the same as on the 20-euro coin, except that there are Chinese characters on the columns.

In 2007, a number of exhibitions and cultural activities are scheduled to be held in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Guangzhou to celebrate the Year of Spain in China.

Source: Xinhua