200 Years of the National Police of Spain

The crowned emblem of the Policía Nacional. The commemorative inscription 'POLICÍA NACIONAL' and the years '1824 – 2024' appear above the design; the issuing state 'ESPAÑA' below. The mint mark of the Madrid Mint is visible at the lower right.

The Policía Nacional is one of the oldest state law enforcement bodies in Europe. Its roots go back to the early 19th century, when Spain, after the Napoleonic Wars and the turmoil of the Restoration era, began building a centralized, nationwide police structure. Founded in 1824 under King Ferdinand VII, it initially replaced older, regionally fragmented security bodies and established itself as a civilian pillar of public order. Since then, the agency has weathered profound political ruptures — monarchy, republic, civil war, dictatorship, and democratic transition — without fully losing its institutional continuity. Today the Policía Nacional is responsible for security in cities and urban areas, while the Guardia Civil covers rural areas and border regions. The two institutions complement each other within Spain's security system, which was thoroughly reformed after the end of Francoism.

Internationally, Spain's National Police is known, among other things, for its close cooperation with Europol and Interpol and its role in combating organized crime and terrorism — issues that have concerned Spain with particular urgency at least since the 2004 Madrid bombings. The force today numbers around 67,000 officers, making it one of the largest police agencies in the European Union. The emblem of the Policía Nacional, a coat of arms featuring a crowned eagle and a badge of merit, has for decades been one of the best-known symbols of Spanish statehood. Spain honors the 200th anniversary of this institution with the 2024 2-euro commemorative coin.