This is a new piece I just obtained. Nothing significant but slightly worn 8 Reales. 1808 was a time tribulation for Spain. A real history changer for Spain and France. In Early March 1808 Napoleon Had moved 20,000 troops into Spain under the pretense they were headed for Portugal which was no problem with current treaties. But Napoleon had other plans. He had already decided to take the Spanish Throne and place one of his brothers on it. King Charles 4th was the current King at this time and really didn't like to be king but more preferred to be out hunting. His son King Ferdinand the 7th was displeased with how he rules Spain and the senior advisor Godoy he had. Godoy even had Ferdinand arrested, which Napoleon intervened and had Ferdinand apologize. After it became known the French troops that entered Spain were not going to Portugal and were in fact an occupation army, Charles 4th turned to Ferdinand to fix the problem. Godoy was relieved of his post, and with two days Charles 4th abdicated in Favor of Ferdinand 7th. France Asked Charles 4th and Ferdinand 7th to come to France to work out differences and both were held hostage. Ferdinand 7th was forced to abdicate the throne back to Charles the 4th who was to abdicate it to Napoleon. Napoleon then put his Brother Joseph as King of Spain. A move the Spanish people refused to accept. The Peninsular War was off and moving. This was a war that would end Spain and France and change the fate of the world. In the end France was invaded. Spain lost most of her colonies from the war and actions created from it (Constitution of 1812, La Pepa), which caused similar incidents in the America's colonies. As far as coinage during this time there were several oddities Coins minted in Spain had the Image of Joseph and his coat of arms (As France Had control of most places and the real last stronghold was in Cadiz) but in Colonies such as Mexico Ferdinand 7th was still on the coins. Even as much as the people of Spain disliked Ferdinand 7th they refused to be forced to support a French King on their Throne.
That is fantastic. I've seen these coins, some with chop marks, and they are a great piece of (American) history.
