The second son of Philip and his first wife, Maria Luisa, Ferdinand was married to Barbara of Portugal to whom he was devoted. She shared his love of music and patronized the opera.

Attached to a policy of peace, Ferdinand directed his attention to internal reforms and curbed the excesses of the Inquisition. He relied considerably on his father’s minister, Marques de la Ensenada to oversee the administrative and financial matters of state.

After the death of Barbara in 1758, Ferdinand suffered from melancholy bordering on madness. He died at a monastery on August 10, 1759 and the crown passed to his half-brother Carlos III.

The obverse of this coin illustrates the cross of Jerusalem with lions and castles quartered surrounded by legend, while the reverse depicts date, mint, assayer and plvs ultra.