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1 Real of 10 Reais Brancos- João I Lisboa mint
| Issuer | Kingdom of Portugal |
|---|---|
| Year | 1415-1433 |
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| Reference(s) | Gomes#J1 60 |
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|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | Central field displays a cross pattée formed by four Portuguese quinas (escutcheons each bearing five bezants in saltire), arranged in a cruciform pattern and set within a beaded inner circle, consistent with the royal arms of Portugal as used under João I. The shields are separated by small decorative elements at the angles of the cross. A circular Latin legend in Gothic majuscules surrounds the central device, reading IOHNS DEI GRA REX PO ET ALG, identifying the issuer as João, by the grace of God King of Portugal and the Algarve. The engraving reflects the characteristic rough, hand-worked finish of hammered medieval Iberian silver coinage. |
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| Additional information |
João I struck these reais brancos during the period when Portugal was consolidating its Atlantic ambitions — Ceuta fell to Portuguese forces in 1415, the same year bracketing this issue's production. The crown needed reliable silver coinage to pay garrisons, fund shipbuilding, and conduct commerce along an expanding frontier that stretched beyond the Strait of Gibraltar for the first time in the kingdom's history.
The Lisboa mint held a near-monopoly on silver striking under João I, with provincial mints largely restricted to billon and copper. At .833 fineness, these pieces sat at the upper end of contemporary Iberian silver standards.