João I's reign began under serious fiscal pressure — he had just fought off a Castilian invasion at Aljubarrota in 1385, and the cost of that campaign, combined with the political restructuring of a new dynasty, forced pragmatic monetary compromises. The billon issues from Évora during this period reflect a crown managing a depleted treasury while trying to maintain enough coinage in circulation to function. Évora's mint was one of several provincial operations João activated to meet demand that Lisbon alone could not satisfy.
The Gomes references J1 29 and J1 30 distinguish two die variants within this denomination.
João I's reign began under serious fiscal pressure — he had just fought off a Castilian invasion at Aljubarrota in 1385, and the cost of that campaign, combined with the political restructuring of a new dynasty, forced pragmatic monetary compromises. The billon issues from Évora during this period reflect a crown managing a depleted treasury while trying to maintain enough coinage in circulation to function. Évora's mint was one of several provincial operations João activated to meet demand that Lisbon alone could not satisfy.
The Gomes references J1 29 and J1 30 distinguish two die variants within this denomination.