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1 Pardau S. Tomé - João III Cochim mint
| Issuer | Portuguese India |
|---|---|
| Year | 1521-1557 |
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| Value | 1 Pardau= 360 Reais |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Saint Thomas (São Tomé) seated facing, rendered in a classical manner reminiscent of Hellenistic iconographic traditions adapted for Portuguese colonial coinage. The apostle is depicted enthroned, holding attributes associated with his martyrdom, with the abbreviated legend 'S' to the left and 'T' to the right of the central figure. The design is set within a plain inner circle surrounded by a beaded outer border. |
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| Reverse lettering | S-T |
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| Additional information |
João III's Cochim-struck pardaus occupy an awkward administrative moment: Goa had been taken in 1510 but the Cochim mint, established earlier under Manuel I, remained the dominant production center for Portuguese Indian gold well into João's reign before Goa's facilities overtook it. The .854 fineness reflects a deliberate policy of matching — and undercutting — the gold standards of indigenous Hindu and Muslim trading currencies circulating along the Malabar Coast, a calculated move to drive adoption in spice-trade settlements.
The Gomes J3 14.0x numbering indicates a recognized die family with documented sub-varieties; collectors should note that attribution between specific x-suffixed varieties depends heavily on punch details not resolvable at grades below VF.