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Spanish
Bust Two Escudos Carlos IIII ~ 1788-1808
Obverse:
CAROL.IIII.D.G. HISP.ETIND.R around draped bust of Carlos IIII, date (1800)
below.
Reverse: AUSPICE.DEO IN UTROQ.FELIX. around the crowned arms of the House of Bourbon,
assayer mark, denomination, and order of Golden Fleece visible.
Carlos IIII was born on November 11, 1747 in Portici, Naples. He
was second son of Carlos III and his wife, Maria Amelia of Saxony.
In 1765 he married his cousin Maria Luisa de Borbon-Parma. They
had three sons, one of whom succeeded him to the throne in 1808 as
Ferdinand VII.
The
King was physically strong, but lacking in intelligence. His
interests leaned towards the Manual Arts and Music. Maria Luisa,
though lacking in beauty and moral values was ambitious and Carlos
entrusted the Queen and her lover, Minister Manuel de Godoy to direct
matters of the state. In time a power struggle developed between
Godoy and the king's eldest son, prince Ferdinand. Finally, the
revolt at Aranjuez forced the King to abdicate in favor of his son
Ferdinand on March 19, 1808. Carlos was subsequently forced into
exile when Napoleon placed his brother Joseph Bonaparte on the Spanish
throne. He died in Naples on January 19, 1819.
Coinage minted under Carlos IIII continued with the existing types with
a normal change for bust and legend. New Spain post-mortem issues
were struck in 1789, 1790, and 1791 with the bust Carlos III and legend
reading Carlos IV or Carlos IIII until new dies with the correct bust
were received. The only new type coinage issued under Carlos IIII
by the America's mints was the tiny milled silver quartillo. |
