80 Reales - Jose I Bonaparte

José Bonaparte's 80 reales denomination was created specifically to align Spanish coinage with the French monetary system his brother Napoleon was imposing across occupied Europe. The issue dates coincide almost exactly with the most violent phase of the Peninsular War — Wellington's campaign was actively contesting the Iberian peninsula while these were being struck in Madrid, and large portions of Spain never recognized the coinage as legitimate tender at all.

Surviving examples in any grade are scarce. The Madrid mint operated under severe disruption, and loyalist resistance meant distribution was geographically constrained throughout both striking years.