Gold Coinage of Ferdinand VI

by A. F. Pradeau

There were four types of gold coins: The firt, which apparently was coined only during 1747, has on the obverse the armored and peruked bust of the king, whose features are not so full as in the second and third types.  These were struck using locally engraved dies, as those that depicted the new king would not arrive from Madrid until late in 1747. The reverse is similar in design and inscription (INITIUM SAPIENTIAE TIMOR DOMINI  (Beginning of Wisdom is Fear of the Lord)) to those of Philip V.

The gold coins of the second type show a smaller, draped portrait of the king with more rotund features than the first type. The inscription around the margin of the obverse side reads: F E R D N D . VI . D . G . HISPAN . E T . IND . R E X . [date]. The reverse presents the same coat of arms as found on the gold coins of Philip V of the eight escudos denomination, but the assayers' initials have been removed from the left of the shield and placed on the margin. The value, in Arabic numerals, appears on the left of the shield between rosettes, one above and one below the figure; on the right of the shield one finds the letter S (Latin for escudos) also between rosettes. The collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece has the Grand Cross suspended below the Fleece. The inscription reads: NOMINA MAGNA SEQUOR (I succeed great names). In the center, below, on either side of the Grand Cross appear the mint mark and the assayers' initials.

The third type presents a similar bust, slightly more ornamented. The initial date of mintage is 1753. On the reverse one finds the same arrangement as described for the third type except that the value does not appear anywhere. The initials * M * M * are found on either side of the Fleece, on the margin.

The fourth type, minted from 1757 to 1759, presents on the obverse the heavily armored bust of the monarch, less rotund, with curlier peruke, and the name appears as FERDIND. The reverse is the same as in the third type, except that the Grand Cross does not appear suspended below the Golden Fleece.

The four, two and one escudos bear the same variations as explained when dealing with similar coins of Philip V, that is, the coat of arms is simplified and is not surrounded by the collar of the Golden Fleece. In some of the two, and in all the one escudo coins, only the head and neck, with a draped base, appear, Some of the one-escudo coins do not have the value shown on either side. The edge milling varies, being either transverse, wreath or twisted cord-like.

One escudo

KM-114 

KM-115.1 

KM-115.2 

KM-116 

Two escudos

KM-125 2E 1747 Mo MF (Stack’s Bowers auction, 28 February 2024, lot 73013)

KM-126.1

KM-126.2

 
KM-127

Four escudos

KM-136 4E 1747 Mo MF (Stack’s Bowers, NYINC auction, 15 January 2022, lot 2082)

KM-137 4E 1748 Mo MF (Stack’s Bowers NYINC auction, 15 January 2022, lot 2083)

KM-139 4E 1757 Mo MM (Stack’s Bowers NYINC auction, 15 January 2022, lot 2085)

Eight escudos

KM-149 8E 1747 Mo MF (Stack’s Bowers, NYINC auction, 15 January 2022, lot 2290)

Unlike most survivors that show incompleteness in Ferdinand's hair, the reverse shield or both, the strike on this piece is even and virtually full, with all intended details being clear for the viewer to observe.

KM-150 8E 1748 Mo MF (Stack’s Bowers NYINC Auction 13 January 2024,lot 53123)

KM-151 8E 1752 Mo MF (Heritage sale 3037,January 2015, lot 30311)

KM-152 8E 1757 Mo MM (Stack’s Bowers auction, 16 January 2021, lot 22209)

 
KM-152 8E 1759 Mo MM (Stack’s Bowers auction ,26 August 2025, lot 41305)