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4 Reales - Carlos III portrait
| Issuer | Lima Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 1772-1784 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | Central quartered shield of the Spanish Royal Arms, displaying alternating castles of Castile and lions of León in the four quarters, with a central oval escutcheon bearing the Bourbon fleur-de-lis, the whole surmounted by an elaborate royal crown. Flanking the shield are the twin Pillars of Hercules, each draped with a banner inscribed PLUS and ULTRA respectively. The mint mark M and assayer initials MJ appear to the left of the left pillar, with the denomination 4R also indicated; the circumferential legend HISPANA ET IND REX encircles the design. A continuous milled border and inner bead circle frame the reverse. |
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| Additional information |
The Lima portrait coinage of Carlos III represents the mandated shift away from the cob-style macuquina coinage that had dominated Spanish colonial production for nearly two centuries. The royal decree of 1771 ordered all New World mints to adopt the new milled portrait series, and Lima was among the first to comply. Transitional dies from the earliest years of this issue show inconsistent edge milling, a known production artifact as the mint's machinery was still being calibrated for the new standard.
Carlos III never set foot in the Americas. His likeness here was worked from approved models sent from Madrid.