Vintém - João II 'L' at left side of 'Y', Lisboa mint

The vintém was introduced under João II as part of a broader monetary reorganization intended to bring Portuguese coinage into closer alignment with Castilian silver standards — a diplomatic as much as an economic calculation, given the ongoing rivalry and negotiation between the two crowns that culminated in the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494. This particular emission, identifiable by the 'L' placement relative to the 'Y', reflects the Lisboa mint's output during the last half-decade of João's reign, a period cut short by his death in 1495 without a legitimate heir.