CARLOS IIII - 1788-1808

Obverse: Bust of Carlos III with the legend of Carlos IIII surrounded by legend, date below.
Reverse: Crowned arms of the House of Bourbon sided by the Pillars of Hercules, legend around.

Carlos IIII was born on November 11, 1747 in Portici, Naples. He was the 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 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 the 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.