Portugal 1811 40 reis
This specimen was lot 1657 in Sedwick sale 12 (Winter Park, FL, October 2012), where it sold for $236. The catalog description[1] noted, "Lisbon, Portugal, copper 40 reis (pataco), João VI, 1811, encapsulated NGC AU 55 BN. This lot is a bit of a mystery, for the slab is of double thickness, obscuring the edge of the piece and making it impossible to weigh or evaluate for thickness, although almost certainly it is a pattern or piedfort (especially since the surfaces are a little grainy and have a trial appearance) despite the lack of that information on the tag. Therefore it is probably of more than token value, but until the next owner cracks it or resubmits it, we will never know for sure." This type, a forty réis or pataco was struck 1811-15 and is scarce in nice condition. It is the first copper coin of Portugal to feature the portrait of the ruler. These heavy bronze coins received much abuse and are normally found in low grade. It is normally quite thick so we don't know if this piece really is a piedfort. João was in 1811 still Prince Regent for his mother, queen Maria I, not mounting the throne until her death in 1816. In 1811, he was still enjoying the tropical delights of Rio de Janiero and resisting the cortés' demand that he return.
Recorded mintage: 162,979.
Specification: 38.2 g, copper, 36.5 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-345.1, Gomes-09.01 (continuous obverse legend) or Gomes-10.01 (space between PORT and ET, shown here).
- [1]Sedwick, Daniel F., Augi Garcia and Cori Sedwick Downing, Treasure Auction #12, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC, 2012.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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.
Link to:
- 1809 200 réis
- 1812 40 réis
- Coins and currency dated 1811
- return to coins of Portugal