3200 Réis - João V 4th Type of Shield, Bahia Mint

João V launched Brazil's domestic gold coinage in 1695 partly to stop the hemorrhage of raw gold leaving Portuguese America as uncoined metal — a constant frustration for the Crown despite repeated prohibitions. The Bahia mint, established decades before its Rio de Janeiro counterpart, handled the bulk of early colonial gold striking and these 3200 réis pieces circulated widely across the Atlantic world, appearing regularly in trade settlements as far as Lisbon, Amsterdam, and London counting houses.

The 4th type shield distinction matters for dating within the 1727–1750 window, as Bentes documents at least seven die varieties across that span.