1 escudo coin of Charles III, 1772

1 escudo coin of Charles III, 1772, minted in Madrid.
Gold.
Weight: 1.73 grs.
Assayer: PJ.
On the obverse, a bust facing right with the inscription CAROL.III. D.G.HISP.R. On the reverse, a coat of arms.

Charles III of Spain, “The Politician” (Madrid, 1716–1788), was King of Spain from 1759 until his death in 1788, King of Naples and Sicily, and Duke of Parma and Plasencia. He was noted for his efforts to modernize society through Enlightenment-era reforms and programs, promoting, among other things, the development of art and craftsmanship. He was involved in conflicts such as the Seven Years’ War, aimed at curbing British expansionism in the American colonies, and the American War of Independence. His death coincided with the almost immediate outbreak of the French Revolution (1789). For this reason, his son and successor, Charles IV, continued with a more conservative and unstable reign.