Catalog
2 Macutas - Maria II Countermark CROWNED SHIELD over '1 Macuta, José'
| Issuer | Angola |
|---|---|
| Year | 1837 |
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| Currency | Real (18th century-1914) |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | The reverse of the host coin features the denomination MACUTA and the numeral 1 prominently inscribed in the central field within a beaded inner circle, flanked by four quatrefoil ornaments at the cardinal points. The circular legend AFRICA·PORTUGUEZA·1763 surrounds the central device, separated from the coin's rim by a beaded border. The overall design is characteristic of the Portuguese colonial copper coinage struck for Angola under José I, with the date 1763 appearing as part of the legend. The surface shows the characteristic broad flan and bold lettering typical of Angola macuta coinage of this period. |
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| Additional information |
When Maria II assumed the Portuguese throne following the Liberal Wars, Angola's existing copper coinage — struck under her predecessor José — required official revalidation. Rather than recall and remelt the stock, Lisbon authorized a countermarking program in 1837: a crowned shield punched directly onto circulating 1 Macuta pieces to double their face value and signal the new reign's authority. The logistics of running such a program across colonial supply chains meant that application quality varied considerably, and Gomes catalogs at least four recognized punch varieties for this type alone.