4000 Réis - Maria I Rio de Janeiro and Bahia Mints

Maria I ascended to the Portuguese throne in 1777 following the dismissal of Pombal, whose mercantilist reforms she largely dismantled. Brazilian gold coinage under her reign continued the colonial monetary framework established by her predecessors, with Rio de Janeiro and Bahia operating as parallel minting centers — a practical necessity given the transport risks of consolidating bullion across such distances. The two mints produced subtly different work, and pieces attributable to each are distinguishable by mint mark rather than any cataloged die variety of particular note.

Maria was declared incurably insane in 1799, after which her son João effectively ruled as regent. Coinage in her name nonetheless continued until 1805.