Portugal (1555-57) 1/2 sao vicente Fr-34
This specimen was lot 32156 in Heritage sale 3067 (Long Beach, September 2018), where it sold for $6,600. The catalog description[1] noted, "Portugal: João III gold 500 Reais (1/2 Sao Vicente) ND (1521-57) AU53 NGC, Porto mint. A rare Portuguese gold issue, the variety defined by PORTV on the obverse. From a crudely struck series, this present piece boasts a very strong portrait of St. Vincent indicative of an exacting strike. The flan has some slight waves, otherwise being of good metal and toned a light honey in the legends. A scarce and attractive example of the type for the discerning collector." This type, along with a sao Vicente (Fr-31), was struck in Lisbon (Fr-33) and Porto (Fr-34, shown here). More were issued during the reign of the doomed king Sebastian (1557-78). All are rare.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.7 g, gold.
Catalog reference: Fr-34, Gomes-175.02.
- 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.
- Sáez Salgado, Javier, Moedas de Ouro de Portugal, 1185-1889, Lisbon, Numisma Leiloes, 2001.
- 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]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2018 September 6-11 Long Beach Expo World Coins & Ancient Coins Signature Auction #3067, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.
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