4 Escudos - Carlos IV bust of Carlos IV

Carlos IV's reign over Spanish colonial mints was administratively continuous but politically chaotic — the king was effectively sidelined by Minister Godoy for much of this period, and the 1808 abdication at Bayonne that ended this type's production was extracted under Napoleonic duress rather than freely given. Santiago's output of gold coinage during these years supplied the commercial networks of the Pacific coast trade, particularly the growing exchange with Manila via Callao.

The Santiago mint was the only Chilean facility authorized to strike gold escudos of this module, and its production volumes fluctuated sharply with ore deliveries from the northern mining districts.