Description: Spanish Real Cob, Felipe V (1739). Potosi Mint
Obverse: Spanish coat of arms. Varying symbols, inscriptions, and mint marks.
Reverse: Jerusalem Cross with flared or barred ends, varying surrounding legends.
History: Felipe V was the first Bourbon King of Spain, ascending the throne in 1700 after the death of the last Habsburg monarch, Carlos II. His reign, interrupted briefly by his abdication in 1724 in favor of his son Louis I, lasted a total of 45 years—making him the longest-reigning Spanish monarch in modern history.
His rule began with the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714), a conflict that reshaped European politics and solidified the Bourbon dynasty in Spain. Later, Felipe V aided his relatives in France by supporting military campaigns during the War of the Polish Succession and the War of the Austrian Succession, reasserting Spanish control over Naples and Sicily. He also oversaw Spain’s defense against British incursions in the War of Jenkin’s Ear.
Felipe V’s reign marked the transition from the Habsburg to the Bourbon style of coinage, primarily seen on the obverse with the coat of arms. Inscriptions surrounding the cross, which was retained, typically were the King’s name and title, such as “PHILIPPVS V DEI GRATIA,,” which translates to “Philip V, by the Grace of God”.
