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XXXX Reais 'Real Português' - João III Cross with small washers, Lisboa
| Issuer | Portugal |
|---|---|
| Year | 1538-1555 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Shape | Round (irregular) |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A plain Greek cross with four small annulets (washers), one in each angle formed by the arms of the cross, all contained within a beaded inner circle. The cross arms extend to the beaded border, dividing the reverse into four quadrants each bearing one annulet. The circumscribed legend reads IN HOC SIGNO VINCES ('In this sign thou shalt conquer'), running between the beaded inner and outer borders, consistent with the crusading iconography prevalent on Portuguese royal coinage of João III. |
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| Mintage | ND (1538-1555) - AG#J3 69.01 - ND (1538-1555) - AG#J3 69.02 (... AL) - ND (1538-1555) - AG#J3 69.03 (... / ... VIN) - ND (1538-1555) - AG#J3 69.04 (... A:G) - ND (1538-1555) - AG#J3 69.05 (...PORTUGALIE / ... VIN) - ND (1538-1555) - AG#J3 69.06 (.../Rev with inv. `S`s`) - ND (1538-1555) - AG#J3 69.07 (Idem,def.crown) - ND (1538-1555) - AG#J3 69.08 (Idem, f~dif Io III) - ND (1538-1555) - AG#J3 69.09 (...PORTVGALIE A) - ND (1538-1555) - AG#J3 69.10 - ND (1538-1555) - AG#J3 69.11 (Obv. and Rev without circle) - ND (1538-1555) - AG#J3 69.12 - Idem (...PORTVALIE.AL) - ND (1538-1555) - AG#J3 70.01 - ND (1538-1555) - AG#J3 70.02 (Io III sep. with 3 washers) - ND (1538-1555) - AG#J3 70.03 (... AL DG/...VIN) - |
| Additional information |
João III inherited a kingdom financially strained by the enormous cost of maintaining Estado da India, and his silver coinage of the 1530s–1550s reflects repeated attempts to stabilize a monetary system under pressure from bullion shortages and the competing demands of overseas trade. The "small washers" (arruelas pequenas) cross type is distinguished from closely related issues by the specific pellet arrangement in the cross quarters — a detail that separates Gomes J3 69 from J3 70 and matters considerably to attribution.
Lisboa mint output for this type spans nearly two decades, an unusually long run for a single design under a reign not otherwise known for monetary conservatism.