Portugal 1691 4000 reis
This specimen was lot 23454 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $2,400. The catalog description[1] noted, "PORTUGAL. Moeda (4000 Reis), 1691. Lisbon Mint. Pedro II. PCGS AU-58. Seemingly a lesser encountered date, this near-Mint specimen dazzles with rich, resounding brilliance remaining and flashy nature to the overall surface quality." This type was struck 1688-1706 and has a fairly low value in the SCWC but is seldom seen. It was the largest gold coin prior to the introduction of the peça (6400 réis), at which time the moidore was reduced to 8.06 g. Similar coins were struck in Brazil but bear mintmarks instead of rosettes next to the Maltese cross.
Recorded mintage: unknown but a better date.
Specification: 10.76 g, .917 gold, .317 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Fr-76; KM-156.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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]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.
Link to: