Tostão 'P-V' - Manuel I Porto mint

The tostão was introduced under Manuel I as part of a sweeping monetary reform intended to rationalize Portugal's coinage during the height of Manueline expansion — the same years Magellan's fleet departed Seville and Portuguese factors were establishing themselves across the Indian Ocean. The Porto mint, identified by its characteristic P-V mark, operated under close crown supervision during this period, though its output was consistently lower than Lisbon's.

Gomes distinguishes two dies for this type, E1 59 and E1 60, differentiated by subtle legend spacing and punch details rather than any structural design change.