Brazil 1749 1000 reis
The first specimen was lot 1160 in the Eliasberg sale, where it sold for $632.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "1749 1,000 reis. Struck at Lisbon for Maranhao. MS-63 (NGC). Types as above. Medium gold with faint orange highlights, good lustre, light adjustment marks at upper left obverse and lower left reverse. A superb example of this one year type. Perhaps the Newcomer coin. From the John H. Clapp Collection; Clapp estate to Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr., 1942."
This type was struck at Lisbon for Brazil this year only. It is the first year of the new standard; earlier 1000 réis weighed 2.68 g.
The gold coinage of Brazil presents problems which have not been resolved to this author's satisfaction. The early series of "moedas provinciales" (1000, 2000 and 4000 réis struck 1714-27) were struck to the standard of 12,600 réis/troy oz. The later series of "moedas provinciales" (1000, 2000 and 4000 réis struck 1749-1822) were struck to the standard of 16,800 réis/troy oz, which seems a straightforward reduction of 25% of the value of the gold réis. However, simultaneous with the "moedas provinciales" were struck the "moedas luso-brasileiras" (800, 1600, 3200, 6400 and 12800 réis struck 1727-1822) to the standard of 15,120 réis/troy oz. This standard values the gold réis 20% lower than the 1714-27 standard and matched the standard used in Portugal itself (see the 4 escudos or peça, struck in Portugal 1722-1835, which matches the 6400 réis of Brazil). How did merchants of the time cope with multiple weight standards for the same currency?
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 2.01 g, 0.917 fine gold, .059 troy oz AGW; the first specimen: 2.10 grams, 18.10 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 161, Fr-64.
- [1]Kraljevich, John, John Pack, Elizabeth O. Piper and Frank Van Valen, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr., Collection of World Gold Coins and Medals, Wolfboro, NH: American Numismatic Rarities, 2005.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Pimentel, Alvaro Mendes, Catálogo de Moedas Brasileiras de 1643 a 1962, 9a Ed., Rio de Janeiro, 1962.
Link to:
- 1748-B 6,400 réis
- 1749 160 réis
- 1749-R 160 réis
- 1749 640 réis
- 1749 2000 réis
- 1749-R 3200 réis
- 1749 4000 réis
- 1749-B 6,400 réis
- Coins and currency dated 1749
- other specimens in The Eliasberg Collection
- return to coins of Brazil