Portugal 1816 400 reis
This type was struck 1802-16 during the reign of prince regent João VI (1799-1816). This coin is the closest thing to a crown issued by Portugal during this period. The SCWC lists this type with a rather low catalog value which belies the infrequency with which it appears in coin shows and auctions. The 400 réis or pinto was struck until 1837, when Portuguese currency was reformed and decimalized. At that time, this coin was replaced by a 1000 réis piece weighing 29.6 grams. A rare variety exists with "VINCES" spelled "VINECS". The second specimen was lot 1135 in Steve Album Auction 51 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2025), where it sold for $390. The catalog description[1] noted, "PORTUGAL: João, Prince Regent, 1799-1816, AR cruzado novo (480 réis), Lisbon, 1816, a wonderful lustrous example! PCGS graded MS64. In 1688 the price of gold and silver rose 20% and there was no time to withdraw and strike new circulating coinage. Therefore, by the law of August 4, 1688, the value of the silver and gold coins in circulation was increased by 20%. However, even approximately 150 years later, the denominations on coinage remained unchanged with the circulating coins having a value approximately 20% above the face value. Thus, the 400 réis marked value on this type meant that it would circulate at 480 réis."
Recorded mintage: 4,938,256.
Specification: 14.7 g, 0.917 fine silver, 35 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 331, Dav-260, Gomes-24.08.
- 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.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 51, featuring the Howard Daniel III Collection of Asian Coins, the Almer H. Orr III Collection of World Coins and the Joe Sedillot Collection of German Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2024.
Link to:
- 1815 400 réis
- (1816-26) XXXX réis = ½ tostão
- (1816-26) 60 réis = 3 vinténs
- (1816-26) LXXX réis = tostão
- (1816-26) 120 réis = 6 vinténs
- 1819 400 réis
- Coins and currency dated 1816
- return to Portugal