640 Réis - José I Light Type - Lisbon Mint

José I's reign saw Portugal still absorbing the financial shockwaves of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, which had devastated the royal treasury alongside the city itself. The coinage reform that produced this "Light Type" was Pombal's pragmatic response — reducing silver content per piece to stretch bullion reserves while maintaining nominal face values. The distinction between the Heavy and Light types trips up collectors regularly; the difference lies in the authorized weight standard, not in any obvious visual cue, which is why the KM subvarieties matter here.