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5 Réis - João IV
| Issuer | Portugal |
|---|---|
| Year | 1645-1656 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Central field displays the crowned Portuguese royal arms: a shield bearing five escutcheons in saltire, each charged with five bezants representing the quinas, encircled by a bordure of castles, the whole surmounted by a royal crown with fleur-de-lis finials. The design is rendered in the characteristic crude style of hammered coinage. A circular legend runs around the periphery reading IOANNES IIII D G REX PORTVGALI, identifying the issuing monarch as João IV, King of Portugal by the Grace of God. |
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| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
João IV took the Portuguese throne in 1640 after the country broke free from sixty years of Iberian Union under Spanish Habsburg rule — a period during which Portuguese coinage had been systematically neglected and debased. The new Braganza dynasty needed a functioning copper currency quickly, and these réis were among the first issues establishing monetary independence from Madrid.
The multiple Gomes references reflect genuine die variations across the production run, not catalogue inconsistency. Portuguese copper of this decade is notoriously poorly struck, a direct consequence of hastily re-established mint operations in Lisbon still rebuilding capacity after decades of Spanish administrative control.