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600 Réis - Luis I Countermark 'BIG CROWN' over '1000 Réis - Pedro II, Brazil'
| Issuer | Azores |
|---|---|
| Year | 1871 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Countermarked |
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| Obverse description | Central field features a laurel wreath enclosing the denomination '1000' with a small ornamental device below; superimposed upon the wreath is the Portuguese 'big crown' countermark applied in 1871, partially overlapping the numeral. The circular legend surrounding the wreath reads PETRUS II.D.G.CONST.IMP.ET PERP.BRAS.DEF., and the date 1860 appears in the exergue below the wreath. The coin retains the full design of the host Brazilian 1000 Réis piece of Pedro II. |
|---|---|
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| Edge | Reeded |
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| Additional information |
Portugal's Atlantic island territories operated under persistent currency shortages throughout the nineteenth century, and countermarking foreign silver was a practical — if messy — solution. The Azores applied crown punches to Brazilian coins already in local circulation, simultaneously redenominating and legitimizing them for continued use. This particular application reduces a Brazilian 1000 Réis to 600 Réis, reflecting the differential exchange rate the Portuguese crown imposed on colonial and semi-colonial silver relative to metropolitan issues.
The "Big Crown" designation distinguishes this punch from smaller crown countermarks applied in the same period — a necessary distinction, as multiple punch sizes exist and misattribution between KM types is routine.