Azores (1887) 300 reis
The first specimen was lot 23741 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2020), where it sold for $264. The catalog description[1] noted, "AZORES. Azores - Brazil. 300 Reis, ND (1887). Luis I. NGC VF-30; Countermark: AU Standard. Crowned G.P. countermark within incuse circle. Issued by decree o[f] 31 March 1887. On 1751 Brazil 320 Reis of Jose I. The host coin is charmingly toned with moderate, even wear. The countermark is fairly well centered on the obverse." The second specimen was lot 40275 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $216. The catalog description[2] noted, "AZORES. Azores - Spain. 300 Reis, ND (1887). Luis I. NGC VG-10; C/S: EF Weak. Issued by decree of 31 March 1887. Countermark: Crowned G.P. (Governo Portuguese) within circular indent. Applied to the obverse o[f] a 1788-S C Spain bust 2 Reales of Charles III (KM-412.2). From the David Sterling Collection." This countermark was applied to all manner of foreign coins circulating in the islands. This Brazilian 320 réis was over a century old when it was countermarked. Crown size coins were valued at 1200 réis, making this coin theoretically 400 réis, but the SCWC lists no such denomination for this countermark. We have filed it as a 300 réis.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 9.66 g, 0.917 fine silver (host coin).
Catalog reference: KM-not listed; Gomes-24.12. The second specimen is KM-25.1; Gomes-L1.18.05.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Alberto Gomes and Francisco Antonio Magro, Moedas Portuguesas e do Território Que Hoje é Portugal: Catálogo das Moedas Cunhadas para o Continentes e Ilhas Adjacentes, para os Territórios do Ultramar e Grão-Mestres Portugueses da Ordem de Malta, 6ª Edição, Lisbon: Associação Numismática de Portugal, 2013.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The January 2020 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2019.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The January 2023 NYINC Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Taraszka Collection and the Mark and Dottie Salton Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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