Ferdinand VII 8 Escudos

The Ferdinand VII 8 Escudos gold coin was often minted in distant Spanish colonies like Mexico and Peru, far from the king's grasp during the Napoleonic upheavals.

This meant that while Ferdinand sat in a French prison, coins bearing his likeness funded imperial efforts across the Atlantic. The design typically featured his portrait on the obverse and the Spanish coat of arms on the reverse, struck in 22-karat gold that reflected the era's economic strains. Weights varied slightly, but most pieces weighed around 27 grams, drawing from New World bullion.

Not every detail is clear. Mintage figures for specific years remain murky, lost to the fog of 19th-century record-keeping. If you're handling one, check for overstrikes; some planchets were recycled from earlier issues.

The coins' edges bear a reeded pattern, a practical choice to deter clipping in circulation. And yes, it's true that not all of these ended up in treasuries—some turned up in odd places, like a miser's sock.