2 1/2 Maticais - Maria II Countermak 'Star' over 2 1/2 Meticais

The "Star" counterstamp applied to Portuguese colonial gold in Mozambique during the mid-nineteenth century reflects a chronic shortage of acceptable specie in the territory rather than any planned monetary reform. Existing coin stocks — often worn or of uncertain fineness — were restruck with a simple mark to authenticate them for continued local circulation. The practice was administratively convenient but created a confusing monetary environment in which counterstamped and uncounterstamped pieces circulated alongside each other at different accepted values.

Maria II died in 1853, and pieces bearing her name were already legacy currency by the time Portuguese East Africa developed more systematic coinage policy later in the century.