Spanish Bust Dollar

Spanish "Bust Dollars" were made with the new Screw Press technology of the 1700's, which was the first functional machine used to strike uniform Spanish coins. The "Bust" refers to the image of the reigning monarch on the obverse of the coins. These coins feature Carlos IIII and Ferdinand VII. Charles IV, or Carlos IIII in Spanish, was the King of Spain from 1788 until 1808 AD. His wife, Princess Maria Louisa of Parma and Ministers, namely his wife's paramour, Manuel de Godoy, profoundly influenced Spanish foreign policy during his reign. Consequently, Spain became involved disastrously in the wars of the French Revolution. In addition, the Spanish navy was destroyed at Trafalgar, and Napoleon led the French to invade Spain two years later. In 1808, Napoleon deposed Charles and made Joseph Bonaparte King of Spain. Charles spent the rest of his life in Rome. Ferdinand VII, the son of Charles IV, was King of Spain in 1808, and again from 1814 to 1833 AD. He encountered political problems before he became King, when he opposed the powerful Spanish Minister, Manuel de Godoy, who tried to force him to marry a daughter of the late Louis XVI of France. His father sided with Godoy, creating a national crisis which led to Charles' abdication and a brief stint on the throne for Ferdninand. Napoleon invaded Spain, reclaimed the throne for Charles, and imprisoned Ferdinand until 1814.