Portugal 1778 800 reis
This specimen was lot 32165 in Heritage sale 3067 (Long Beach, September 2018), where it sold for $1,560. The catalog description[1] noted, "Portugal: Maria I & Pedro III gold 1/2 Escudo 1778 MS62 NGC, Lisbon mint. The sole certified example of this very rare denomination for 1778. Almost Choice Mint State, this example exhibits muted luster beneath creamy gold surfaces, slightly softly struck on the portraits as is common for this issue but otherwise sharp and well-made. A delightful rarity of the Portuguese numismatic series." This type was struck 1777-78, 1780 and 1784 for queen Maria I and her uncle-husband Peter III. It is frequently called a half escudo altho it is not particularly close to the Spanish half escudo in module. The full size peça (6,400 réis) was struck in large numbers in Portugal and Brazil but the fractional denominations are rare.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.79 g, 0.917 fine gold, 16 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 269.
- 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.
- 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.
Link to:
- 1778 V réis
- 1778 X réis
- 1778 200 réis
- 1778 3200 réis = ½ peça
- 1778 6,400 réis = 1 peça
- 1780 800 réis = ½ escudo
- Coins and currency dated 1778