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XX Réis 'Vintem' - João IV Lisboa mint
| Issuer | Portugal |
|---|---|
| Year | 1641 |
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| Value | 20 Réis (Reais) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Central field bears the Portuguese royal shield, comprising five escutcheons in cross formation each charged with five bezants, enclosed within a bordure of castles, all set within an ornate cartouche surmounted by a crown. The shield is rendered in a bold, slightly irregular style characteristic of hammered coinage. The circular Latin legend surrounding the shield reads +IOANNES .D.G.REX, identifying João IV as king by the grace of God. The flan is irregular and slightly cupped, consistent with the hand-struck technique of the period. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | +IOANNES .D.G.REX |
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| Additional information |
João IV's restoration coinage of 1641 was among the first official currency struck after Portugal reclaimed independence from the Spanish Crown following sixty years of Iberian Union. The vintem denomination had deep roots in Portuguese monetary tradition, but these earliest Restoration issues were produced under considerable urgency — the Lisbon mint was being reorganized almost simultaneously with the political upheaval of December 1640, and die quality across the first years of João IV's reign is notoriously inconsistent as a direct result.
Collectors working this series should note that Gomes distinguishes multiple die marriages for this type.