Portugal (1557-78) 1/2 tostao
This specimen was lot 74454 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2023), where it sold for $144. The catalog description[1] noted, "PORTUGAL. 1/2 Tostao (50 Reis), ND (1557-78). Lisbon Mint. Sebastiao I. PCGS EF-40. A lovely hammered piece with clean surfaces toned to a pleasing deep gray color. With strong well-centered detail and comparatively limited areas of weak strike, this coin is a better than usual representative of the type." In 1578, king Sebastian of Portugal was killed fighting the Moors in Africa. After some confusion, in 1580, Philip II moved in and annexed the country, which was held as part of the Spanish crown until 1640.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 0.917 fine silver.
Catalog reference: Gomes-36.09.
- 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, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, February 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, featuring the David Sterling Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
Link to:
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- Portugal (1557-78) tostao Sebastian I
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- Coins and currency dated 1557