2 Tostões - António I Countermark 'Açor' over 'Tostão - Antonio'

When António, Prior of Crato, was proclaimed king in Lisbon in 1580, his reign lasted just twenty days before Philip II of Spain's forces under the Duke of Alba crushed Portuguese resistance at Alcântara. António fled but never surrendered his claim, and coins struck in his name became politically charged objects. The Azores — uniquely — held out for him, recognizing his authority until 1583, when a Spanish fleet finally subdued the islands after the Battle of Vila Franca do Campo.

The countermark was applied precisely to legitimize continued circulation of António's silver under that contested regime during the holdout period.